Guilford Courier 02-12-26

APT Expansion Wins PZC Approval

By Aaron Rubin

Staff Writer

The Guilford Planning and Zoning Commission voted 6-1 on Feb. 4 to approve an expansion of the APT Foundation’s Boston Post Road properties, backing new office space and a garage for mobile medical clinics

at a site that has generated ongoing public controversy.

The approval allows the foundation to construct a new office building and an enlarged garage at 415 and 417 Boston Post Road, adjacent to its methadone clinic at 439 Boston Post Road.

Approved at the commission’s Feb. 4

meeting, the plan calls for a 3,000-squarefoot office building and a 4,400-square-foot garage that can house two mobile clinics. According to Lynn Madden, CEO of the APT Foundation, the project includes expanding the existing garage, demolishing an empty

See APT Expansion page 10

Donna Grajauskas drafts her bowl during the Guilford Art Center’s first Soup-er Bowl Chili Fundraiser on Feb. 8. The event supports the center’s arts education and outreach programs and the Guilford Food Bank. Guests choose a handmade ceramic bowl by GAC potters and enjoy homemade chili and a drink.

Amy Donegan

Most Outstanding Kaylin Diglio led the way for the Grizzlies at the SCC championships............................11

ONE Concert for Spring Orchestra New England (ONE) gives a prelude to spring with its BaroqueFest concert................................19

Amy Donegan Carries Forward Duck Pond Legacy

By Alicia Gomez

Special to The Courier

When Amy Donegan’s mother, Susan Pavelko, died, she left a legacy as a respected and devoted child educator and caretaker in the Branford community. But it was up to Amy to unexpectedly carry on her mother’s legacy as she took on leadership of the family business, Duck Pond Learning Center.

With years of experience working at Duck Pond Learning Center, founded by her parents, Amy was already familiar with child care. In fact, she always knew she would work with children. She majored in early childhood education and worked as a preschool teacher before joining Duck Pond Learning Center full-time.

That background gave her a strong foundation in working with children and understanding family needs. Still, she had to quickly adapt to the broader responsibilities that came with a leadership role.

Duck Pond Learning Center opened in Branford in 1993. The center was originally part of a partnership that operated multiple child care programs in Milford and Branford. As the programs grew, the

partnership eventually split, and the Pavelko family became the sole owner and operator of Duck Pond Learning Center in Branford. The center has remained at its current Branford location since that time.

Amy strives to emulate her mother’s approach to leadership, both within the business and in the larger community. She continues her mother’s philosophy of “education through play,” an approach that allows children to learn through curiosity, exploration, and intentional

“Everybody wants their child to go to school learning ABCs and 123s and colors and numbers, and they will, but they don’t have to sit down and do workbook pages,”

At Duck Pond, intentional play may

look like children cleaning up blocks by color, counting pieces as they build, or learning science through hands-on sensory experiences. Math, literacy, and problemsolving skills are woven into everyday activities in ways that feel natural to

While Amy believes children have a great deal to learn through play, she also believes adults have just as much to learn

“If we could all act like children under 5, it would be a kinder place to live,” Amy

She points to children’s ability to forgive

Relationships are central to how Amy leads the center. Whether it’s parents or staff, her office door is always open.

“If people know you and trust you and know that you have their best interest at heart, that speaks volumes in any job,” she says. “I really learned so much of that from

Her staff, many of whom have worked at Duck Pond for decades, play a critical role in the center’s day-to-day success.

See Amy Donegan page 10

Nominations Open for 14th Annual Beacon Awards

Managing Editor Laura Robida

Since 2013, the Beacon Awards have been our way of pausing to say thank you to the people who quietly hold our shoreline communities together.

What began as a small effort to recognize a handful of extraordinary neighbors has grown into an annual tradition. Over the past 13 years, Shore Publishing and Zip06.com have honored nearly 200 individuals whose generosity, compassion, and commitment have strengthened our towns in ways both large and small. In 2026, we are proud to continue that tradition with the 14th annual Beacon Awards, to be held Wednesday, June 24, at Woodwinds in Branford.

Beacon Award honorees are not chosen for accolades or titles. They are chosen because they show up—consistently and selflessly. They lead food drives, mentor young people, advocate for neighbors, preserve local history, protect vulnerable populations, and give their time without expectation of recognition. These are the people who make our shoreline a place of opportunity, well-being, and connection.

As a local news organization, we have the privilege of telling many meaningful stories throughout the year. But the Beacon Awards are special. They are shaped directly by the community through nominations submitted by readers, neighbors, coworkers, and friends. You are the ones who know who is making a difference, often quietly and sometimes without thanks.

We invite you to submit your nominations for the 2026 Beacon Awards at www.beaconawardsct.com. Nominees must be at least 18 years old and have a strong connection to one of our shoreline communities, including Branford, Chester, Clinton, Deep River, East Haven, Essex, Guilford, Killingworth, Madison, North Branford, North Haven, Old Saybrook, or Westbrook. Nominations are due by Friday, March 13.

To our past honorees, nominees, sponsors, and nominators: thank you. The Beacon Awards endure because of your belief that service matters and that those who give of themselves deserve to be seen. Who inspires you? We’re looking forward to hearing their story.

DAY Coalition Proposes Drug Disposal Pouches

By Aaron Rubin

Staff Writer

To mitigate the risk of medications and potentially harmful substances being irresponsibly consumed by Guilford youth, the Guilford DAY Coalition is proposing the permanent placement of medication-deactivation pouches at common town locations for safe disposal.

The Guilford Board of Selectmen heard the proposal at its Feb. 2 meeting in a presentation by Leah Foster, prevention coordinator at Guilford Youth and Family Services and for the DAY Coalition.

The disposal system presented to the selectmen is called Deterra, produced by Verde Environmental Technologies Inc. Deterra’s method involves placing pills into pouches filled with a carbon-based formula that permanently deactivates a substance’s effects before disposal in a canister. Foster said it is a federally recognized method endorsed by both the Drug Enforcement Administration and the

Community Anti-Drug Coalition of America, the latter organization from which the coalition orders the pouches using opioid settlement funds. First Selectman Matt Hoey said the purchase marks “an appropriate use of those funds.”

“How it works is,” Foster explained, “the pouches contain activated carbon that gets activated by warm water. You put it under warm water and then you put the pills in, and then it absorbs and permanently destroys the chemical compounds in the pills, the liquids, whatever medication it is.”

The coalition has previously distributed the pouches at events on the Town Green but is now seeking permanent pickup sites at Town Hall, the Guilford Free Library, and the Guilford Community Center. At Town Hall, Foster suggested placement in an area with high foot traffic, citing the Tax Collector’s Office as an example. The

Obituaries

Obituary

Mary E. Whiteman Abel

Guilford

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Mary Elizabeth “Betty” Whiteman Abel, 92, passed away peacefully with her family by her side in her home Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026. Betty was born in Guilford in the family home on Boston Street Feb. 26, 1933, and was the daughter of the late Dorothy (Swift) Whiteman Bartman and C. Thomas Whiteman. She was the wife of the late Irving J. Abel and loving mother to Lynelle Abel (Joe Erff), Michael Abel (Deb), and Kristin Skelly (Dan). She also leaves five grandchildren whom she adored, Corey Erff (Clare), Morgan Abel, Garrett Erff, Nicole Shea (Conor), and Delaney Skelly. In addition, she leaves two great-granddaughters, Bridget and Lillian Erff, along with three stepgrandchildren, Zach Coelho, Christianne Dorado, and Alejandra Dorado. She was the beloved Aunt Betty to numerous nieces and nephews whom she cherished. She was predeceased by her siblings, Thomas, Gilbert, Wilma, Greggory, Patricia, and Dorothy. She leaves her brother, Gordon Whiteman (Andrea), and sister, Diane Schmidt (Thomas). She also leaves her brothersin-law, James Abel (Phyllis), and Ellie Anderson (Laura); her dedicated and compassionate caregiver of three years, Alyssa Andrus; along with many friends and relatives.

Betty was a lifelong resident of Guilford and a graduate of Guilford High School, Class of 1951. She took great pride in her many contributions to the school, including serving as a cheerleader, drum majorette in the band, a member of the basketball team, editorin-chief of the yearbook, participant in several choral groups, and class marshal.

Throughout her entire life, Betty held on to the friendships she made from early childhood, including the original members of a social club of her best friends, called the “Knittin’ Kittens.” Her years were filled with love, laughter, music, and many trips to her beloved Block Island. Betty was the life of any party and, at her children’s and

grandchildren’s urging, would break into her old high school cheers, sing old tunes with her siblings, or share stories from her childhood. She started an annual tradition of a Christmas Day family talent show, where she could be found at her old upright piano playing

“I’ll Be Down to Get You in a Taxi, Honey” or a simple rendition of Chopsticks. She relished watching her children and grandchildren perform whatever early talents they were working on.

Betty worked for the Town of Guilford for many years, ending with the Parks and Recreation Department as an administrative assistant, retiring in 1998. Betty was well known for her love of poetry, having published three books of poems, one entitled , featuring the masonry work of her late husband. Her poetry is also inscribed on the Vietnam Memorial monument on the Guilford Town Green.

Poetry in Stone

Betty served as a founding member of the Guilford Alcohol Council and as a member of the Ladies VFW Auxiliary, including a term as president. She volunteered for Christ Episcopal Church and the former Hospital of Saint Raphael. Betty’s community work and civic spirit led to a special recognition issued by former First Selectman Carl Balestracci, who named Sept. 18, 2002, as “Betty Abel Day” in Guilford. Betty was a role model for many—but none more than her family. She had a long and rich life. Her laughter, kindness, and generous spirit brought love to so many, and she will be deeply missed. Her love will remain in our hearts forever.

Services are being coordinated through the Guilford Funeral Home, with calling hours from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11, at the funeral home and a Celebration of Life being held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, at Christ Episcopal Church in Guilford. Donations in Betty’s memory can be made to the Women and Family Life Center, 96 Fair St., Guilford, CT 06437, https://womenandfamilylife.org/donate, or Christ Episcopal Church, 11 Park St., Guilford, CT 06437, https://www.christchurchguilford.org/stewardship--giving.html. To share a memory or leave condolences, visit www.guilfordfuneralhome.com.

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DAY Coalition Proposes Drug Disposal Pouches

Continued from page 4

bags, which can be used for prescription pills such as opioids, over-the-counter medications, and liquid substances, can then be disposed of in a drop box in the main lobby of the Guilford Police Department.

Foster said the system offers a “safe” way to dispose of “unused, unwanted, or expired pills, patches, liquids, creams, and films at home” and keep them away from young people.

She also described it as an “environmentally friendly” method of keeping drugs and other substances out of landfills, the water supply, and wildlife digestive systems.

The disposal method can also benefit residents without transportation, including seniors. A household garbage container provides an “at-home alternative to a med-

ication drop box,” Foster said, if the police station drop box is not accessible.

“Oftentimes, maybe older residents or people who aren’t able to get transportation to a police station…it’s an easy way to do it at home,” she said. “Having it available to residents creates the ease of access and helps keep medications out of the wrong hands from misuse.”

Asked by Selectman Louis Federici about the motivation behind the proposal, he said, “What’s the driver here? Is the issue that just unused meds present an irresistible temptation?”

“I think it’s a combination of a potential irresistible temptation and also accidents,” Foster responded.

She said placing medications in pouches that dissolve a drug’s chemical compounds removes the risk of harm to children and pets.

Responding to a citizen comment,

Foster said she would be “open to working” with Guilford schools on the proposal.

“We want to make it as accessible as possible to everyone,” she said.

Guilford Courier

In a statement to the , Foster said a “huge piece” of the proposal is that it represents an additional effort by the Town of Guilford to address the opioid crisis. She said the national issue has not left Guilford untouched, making local action critical in “raising the awareness and decreasing stigma around having the conversations.”

“Towns like Madison and Guilford—oftentimes problems like this go under the radar, but it doesn’t mean they’re not happening,” she said. “It’s also really great that we do have such close connections with the selectmen, the schools, and the library. Because we have those close relationships, we’re able to do things like this.”

American Legion Guilford Post 48 invites local veterans to join the post and meet fellow veterans with similar interests and experiences. The post addresses veterans’ issues, organizes community projects such as food baskets for those in need, and sponsors programs such as Boys and Girls State, an oratorical contest for high school seniors, and a scholarship for Guilford High School students. Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month, except for July and August. Meetings begin with a short ceremony to honor MIAs and POWs. Locations and times of the meeting vary. For specific times and locations or for more information, call Fred Brisbois 203-605-7747.

The Perfect Valentine: Hoping for a Home

Story by Carol Andrecs

Beautiful Hope has been waiting for her forever home for many years. She was rescued as a very pregnant stray and gave birth shortly thereafter. Her kittens were adopted several years ago, and she has been patiently waiting for her own loving home. Hope is quiet and a little shy, but warms up nicely when she is petted. She will blossom in a quiet home without dogs or young kids. Adopting one cat may not change the world, but for Hope, her world will change forever. Come meet Hope at our open house or apply to adopt her online at www.forgottenfelinesct.org.

Find Your Match at Forgotten Felines

Forgotten Felines holds an open house every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 153 Horse Hill Road, Westbrook. No appointment is necessary.

Forgotten Felines is run entirely by dedicated volunteers with no paid staff. We are always in desperate need of volunteers to help care for the cats and keep our facility clean and organized. If you can donate your time, it will be very rewarding and

much appreciated. For more information, contact 860-669-1347 or volunteerinfo@forgotten felinesct.org.

High School Diploma/GED and Other Programs

Shoreline Adult Education, formerly known as ERACE, offers free academic programs for individuals seeking to earn their high school diploma/GED, practice their English language skills, or prepare for their U.S. citizenship test. These classes are available to individuals aged 17 years or older who live in Branford, North Branford, Guilford, or Clinton. Individuals outside the four-town region may register for a fee if space is available. Limited spots are available for residents of any town at no charge. Shoreline Adult Education also offers a variety of affordable enrichment classes, open to individuals of any town, including courses on computers, music and dance, cooking, career development, CPR and first aid, world languages, business and financial planning, fine arts, photography, and writing. For more information, call 203-488-5693 or visit shorelineadulted.org.

LEGAL NOTICE TOWN OF GUILFORD, CT. HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION

Notice is hereby given that the Guilford Historic District Commission will hold a public hearing on Wednesday 18th February, 2026 at 7:00p.m. in the Guilford Community Center, 32 Church Street, Guilford, CT to consider the following: -

Application by Guilford Interfaith Volunteers/Chloe’s Closet for a Certificate of Appropriateness to install an outdoor advertising sign on property located at 55 Park Street, Assessor’s Map 40, Lot 03.

The above application and accompanying documents are on file for inspection in the offices of the Town Clerk and the Guilford Historic District Commission, Town Hall, Guilford. At this hearing, written communications will be received and all interested parties will be given an opportunity to be heard relative to the above application.

TERESA BUCHANAN Chairman

*Results

Obituaries

Continued from page 5

Obituary Beverly Waters Guilford

Beverly Waters, 93, of Guilford, died Jan. 31, 2026, at her home. She was the widow of Bruce Waters. They were married for 55 years prior to his passing in 2004. Beverly was born in New Haven on April 7, 1932, to Marjorie and Alson Leavenworth. Beverly wed Bruce on Oct. 4, 1949, and they had three children together and raised their family in Guilford. Beverly is survived by her daughter, Margie Waters (Tim Brownell); and her sons, Wayne (Tracy) Waters, and Garry

Waters; six grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

Beverly was a prolific knitter, donating many baby hats, sweaters, and prayer shawls to Yale New Haven Hospital over the years. She enjoyed crafting, reading, and puzzles. She always had something she crafted, or a newspaper clipping she’d pull out of her purse for a loved one or someone she enjoyed interacting with around town—that was her way of showing her love. Services will be held privately in the spring.

“Why did no one tell us that to die is to be reincarnated in those we love while they’re still alive.”—Andrea Gibson.

See Obituaries page 9

LVVS Offers Workplace Literacy Program

Literacy Volunteers Valley Shore offers free workplace literacy programs to improve employee productivity for businesses in Guilford. The free program matches volunteer tutors with employees, working together to customize a program that meets workplace and student needs. For more information or to participate in the program, contact John Ferrara at 860-399-0280 or jferrara@lvvs.org.

LEGAL NOTICE

TOWN OF GUILFORD

NOTICE OF SPECIAL TOWN MEETING MONDAY March 2, 2026 – 8:30 A.M.

Notice is hereby given that a Special Town Meeting of the electors and citizens qualified to vote in Town meetings of the Town of Guilford, Connecticut, will be held in the Selectmen’s Meeting Room, 31 Park St., Guilford CT on Monday, March 2, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. to consider and act on the following proposed resolution:

The December 12, 1961 Special Town Meeting Resolutions 6, 6b and 7 shall continue to apply only until such time as an ordinance is enacted by the Board of Selectmen confirming the current classification of roads and establishing the method and criteria by which the Board of Selectmen shall classify and re-classify roads in the future. Upon the effective date of such an ordinance, Resolutions 6, 6b and 7 of the December 12, 1961 special meeting shall expire and be of no further effect.

Dated at Guilford this 2nd day of February, 2026.

Matthew T. Hoey III

Louis Federici

Jonathan Trotta

Sandra Ruoff

Susan Renner

BOARD OF SELECTMEN TOWN OF GUILFORD

I hereby certify that on the 3rd day of February, 2026, I posted the within warning upon the signpost of the Town of Guilford and on the 12th day of February, 2026 caused the same to be published in the Guilford Courier, a newspaper of general circulation in the Town of Guilford.

Matthew T. Hoey III

Obituaries

Continued from page 8

Obituary

Kendrick Lyddon Norris

Kendrick Lyddon Norris, a gifted minister, insightful therapist, involved community leader, and devoted family man who made a profound and positive impact on multitudes, died of cholangiocarcinoma Jan. 23, 2026, at his home in Guilford. He was 75. He was a loving husband to Mary Luders Norris and proud father to Soren, Evan (Beth Frazier), and Lizzie Norris Zoeller (Kenny); treasured grandfather to Nikoy, Nikena, River, Sammie, and Benjy; devoted brother to David (Kim) and Sally (David); and valued friend to many, including a wide extended family.

and Affirming Congregation; and strove to be a healthy community where those of differing opinions were not demonized as ignorant or evil but respected as people of good will and intelligence. In retirement, Kendrick went on to bring his special light as interim minister to First Church New Britain and Center Congregational Church Meriden, and through his private therapy practice.

An exceptional church leader renowned for sermons conveying complex thoughts in accessible language, Kendrick served the First Congregational Church of Guilford for 37 years and was voted by the congregation to be their minister emeritus. During his tenure, the church settled 150 refugees from around the world; offered a worldclass, interfaith high school youth group (Pilgrim Fellowship); became an Open

A Yankee fan by birth and Minnesota Vikings and New England Patriots fan by adoption, Kendrick appreciated all sports, including the UConn Women Huskies, who played the same kind of basketball that the champion New York Knicks played in 1970. He was captain of his high school football team and witnessed firsthand the greatness of Mickey Mantle in Yankee Stadium and Tom Brady in Foxborough.

Kendrick was recharged by music, especially live music, and made a priority of going to shows throughout his life. Particular favorites were music of the 1960s; the country rock of Poco, New Riders of the Purple Sage, and Pure Prairie League; and, of course, the Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia in all his forms. Until COVID-19, he enjoyed playing bluegrass with the Guilford

NOTICE TO CREDITORS ESTATE OF Suzanne Swenson Elmore Huhn (26-0010)

The Hon. Peter C. Barrett, Judge of the Court of Probate, District of Madison - Guilford Probate Court, by decree dated January 29, 2026, ordered that all claims must be presented to the fiduciary at the address below. Failure to promptly present any such claim may result in the loss of rights to recover on such claim.

Priscilla H. Geer, Clerk

The fiduciary is:

William D. Huhn, 465 Clapboard Hill Road, Guilford, CT 06437

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF RETIREMENT

Dr. Michael Crain wishes to notify his patients that he retired from RAM Radiology on 12/31/25. RAM will continue practice at Middlesex Health and their private offices.

Ramblers. His friendships and interests were varied and deep, including a Friday night poker crew for well over 40 years, local tai chi and pickleball communities, and a nationwide network of Native American artifact enthusiasts. Kendrick’s kind nature and generous laugh were paired with a sharp mind and ever-questioning intellect. A dedicated student, his degrees from Trinity School in New York City, Wagner College, Yale Divinity School, Andover Newton Theological Seminary, and the Graduate Theological Foundation encompassed two doctorates, with the addition of multiple certifications, including as a Jungian analyst. He is the immediate past president of the New York Association for Analytical Psychology (NYAAP) and served on the faculty of the C.G. Jung Institute of New York and the C.G. Jung Institute of Boston, as well as teaching at Yale Alumni College. He was also a founding member of the Connecticut Association for Jungian Psychology, and served on the board of directors of the Dudley Farm Foundation and as chaplain to the Guilford Police Department and the local FBI. His compelling book, “Jungian and Psychoanalytic Perspectives on Christmas: Origins, Motifs, and

Psychological Significances” (Routledge), was published in 2025. When interviewed for the senior minister position at Guilford, Kendrick was thrown the question, “What is the meaning of life?” He later recalled, “What came out of my mouth had never been in my head, but it has profoundly affected my life ever since. I answered: ‘The purpose of life is to remove the obstacles within us that get in the way of our receiving and giving love.’” That became his guiding principle, to the benefit of us all.

A service of celebration for Kendrick’s life will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, at the First Congregational Church of Madison, 26 Meeting House Lane, Madison, with a reception following at the Guilford Yacht Club. The service will also be livestreamed on YouTube (@fccmadisonct). Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations in his honor may be made to the Dudley Farm Foundation, 2351 Durham Road, Guilford, CT 06437 (dudleyfarm.com).

Arrangements are in care of the Guilford Funeral Home. To share a memory or leave a message of condolence for the family, visit www.guilfordfuneralhome.com.

Notice of Intent to Demolish –254 Boston St. Guilford, CT 06437 – INTERIOR ONLY

In accordance with the Chapter 160 Demolition of Building Article 1, notice is hereby given that an application for a Zoning Permit was apply for on 1/30/26 with the Guilford Zoning Department for the interior demolition of the structure located at:

Address of Structure: 254 Boston St

Description/Type: Interior Demolition Only

Approximate Start Date: February 2026

The Applicant for this permit is:

Name: Gulick & Co. LLC

Phone: 203-996-6151

A copy of the application is on file with the Guilford Zoning Department.

Description of Project: Full Renovation of circa 1787 house at 254 Boston St with preservation and renovation of the interior of the old house. Keeping the existing shell and renovating the interior and making the house up to todays standard of living. All exterior sheathing, fireplace mantels, old floors remaining on first floor. Moving front door to center of house to bring back to original style. Saved all old floor boards that had to get removed on second floor to be reused where possible. House will be insulated, re-wired, new plumbing and with new heating system.

APT Expansion Wins PZC Approval

Continued from page 1

building at the front of the property, and constructing a new structure that is architecturally similar to the clinic.

Madden said the purpose of the mobile medical units is to deliver substance abuse treatment services “by driving to various communities on the shoreline” and to New Haven for a few hours each day.

The new offices could consolidate the foundation’s information technology or human resources departments, Madden said, but would not house all offices. The foundation’s main administrative offices are located in a larger building in New Haven.

The establishment of the methadone clinic has generated controversy among some Guilford residents, with critics accusing town leadership of a lack of transparency and objecting to the absence of a public hearing before the clinic opened. Town officials have previously pointed to the legality of the clinic’s establishment without a discretionary approval process.

The clinic was approved as an “as-ofright” action “without any special considerations such as a Special Permit or public hearing,” according to Town Planner Anne Hartjen. The clinic properties

are located in the Post Road Business 3 District under Guilford Zoning Regulations, which allow medical clinics and multi-structure facilities to be approved through site plan review. Those same regulations permitted approval of the additional office and garage space.

Some residents have also expressed concern about the population visiting the clinic for substance abuse and mental health treatment. Speaking with the Guilford Courier, First Selectman Matt Hoey cited Guilford police records from October 2025 showing six calls from the clinic requesting public safety assistance.

One call involved a medical emergency in which “an individual needed to be transported to the hospital,” Hoey said. Another responded to “suspicious activity” involving a “hand-to-hand transaction,” though “there was no one there when the police arrived.” Two additional calls resulted from accidental activation of the building’s alarm.

During the Feb. 4 meeting, Commissioner Roger Joyce noted that the police department had received no calls related to traffic crime or other serious disruptions at the clinic.

Commission Chair Sean Cosgrove said during the meeting, “What I’ve heard is

that fire and police have been called to the CVS and Guilford far more often than to APT.”

“If the public is listening, just pay attention to the facts,” Cosgrove said.

Hoey said there were “no incidents along the lines of what had been purported to be in the offing, when this was approved.” He added that the clinic reflects Guilford as a “caring, compassionate community who embraces those who have problems, those who have struggles,” and said its function is “not unlike the couple of facilities here in town that host Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and they take place on a daily basis.”

Locationally, the clinic is “appropriately put right by an exit and entrance ramp to I-95,” Hoey said, making it easier for patients commuting from the shoreline and for “the number of Guilford residents who are our patients at that facility.”

Some commissioners nonetheless sought to address lingering concerns.

Commissioner Phil Jackson, who cast the sole dissenting vote, asked whether the foundation would “consider a deed restriction on not allowing a treatment center in this new office space that you’re proposing.”

The commission did not pursue a

Amy Donegan Carries Forward Duck Pond Legacy

Continued from page 2

“They’re the boots on the ground every day in the mix,” Amy says.

Amy’s transition to full leadership came quickly after her mother’s passing, forcing her to step into responsibilities she had not previously managed while working as part of the staff. While she had been involved in daily operations, taking on sole leadership meant learning the financial and administrative side of running a child care business, from budgeting to long-term planning.

“I don’t love the mathematics and budgeting,” she says. “But I learned how to do it very quickly.” That experience, she says, gave her a better understanding of the business and strengthened her ability to support both families and staff.

Her perspective was also shaped by time spent outside of

Duck Pond. Before returning fulltime nearly two decades ago, she worked in a corporate role focused on child care referrals and quality assurance. That position allowed her to hear directly from families and better understand their needs, which informs how she works with parents today.

“Hearing parent after parent and what they’re looking for really helped me understand how parents want to be part of a program,” she says.

Advocacy has become a central part of Amy’s work. She is a graduate of the Parent Leadership Training Institute, where she learned how to advocate for families and early childhood education at the local and state levels. She has written to and spoken with legislators on issues affecting child care in Connecticut.

That advocacy was reflected recently in Duck Pond’s receipt of

a grant from the Women’s Business Development Council, which helped the center reopen a licensed classroom that had been closed since before the COVID-19 pandemic due to staffing challenges.

The grant allowed Duck Pond to renovate the space and purchase new equipment, expanding capacity and opening spots for families on the waiting list. The classroom reopened in May.

“It didn’t pay for everything, but it gave us a leg up,” Amy says.

Amy says child care centers must often balance affordability for families with staffing and operational costs, a challenge that has only intensified in recent years.

“Parents are getting priced out, and daycares are running on very tight margins,” she says. “So having a little extra funding to break through that barrier made a big difference.”

requirement for such a restriction, citing concerns that it would fall outside the scope of its authority.

Madden said the office space would be used solely for administrative purposes and that the mobile units and offices are intended to “support the organization.”

“This is for administrative support offices, so there’s no intention of making our clinical footprint larger,” Madden said.

She added that the foundation does not “need additional treatment space” at 439 Boston Post Road and has no plans to relocate its “self-contained clinic treatment program” or expand the number of patients served.

“The current use of the building at 439 [Boston Post Road] doesn’t change at all,” Madden said. “The offices that are in the building at 439 will remain there. Their offices are for people who work with our patients at that location.”

In response to a question from Commissioner Larry Rizzolo regarding changes to the patient population, Madden said “there are no changes to the patient population” at the clinic, which totals 235 patients, “most of whom attend only monthly.”

“People using this particular clinic are the originally intended folk,” Madden said.

Beyond its immediate impact, the grant marked an important milestone for Amy. It was one of the first grants she applied for independently, and the process gave her the confidence to continue seeking additional funding opportunities.

Her community involvement extends beyond Duck Pond. Amy serves as co-chair of Milford’s School Readiness program, now known as Connecticut Early Start, which works to expand access to early childhood education and funded preschool seats. She also remains involved in Early Start efforts in Branford as a community member.

In addition, Amy serves on the board of Prepared 2 Help, a nonprofit organization focused on addressing basic needs such as food, clothing, and education. Through Duck Pond, she encourages families to give back locally by partnering with organizations

like the Branford Community Dining Room and organizing toy and toiletry drives.

Amy says collaboration, not competition, defines the early childhood community in Branford. Child care directors regularly share resources, advice, and referrals, a practice that became especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We worked together really, really well,” she says. “We held each other up.”

For Amy, carrying on her mother’s legacy means more than running a successful child care center. It means advocating for families, supporting her staff, and creating a space where children can learn, explore, and feel valued.

“At the end of the day, it’s all about the kids,” she says.

Guilford Courier

Valley Courier

Thursday, February 12, 2026

Diglio Earns Most Outstanding Athlete at SCC Championship Meet

By Serenity J. Bishop

Sports Editor

Some of the top track athletes in the state were on display this past weekend as teams from across the area gathered to compete in the Southern Connecticut Conference Championship meet at the Floyd Little Athletic Center in New Haven.

Among the 20 teams in the conference were the Guilford boys and girls indoor track teams. This winter has been a challenging season for teams across the board, as they have endured difficult weather conditions and renovations that condensed the overall schedule.

Despite the obstacles the season has presented, the Guilford Grizzlies have not let them disrupt their progress. Each week, Guilford has competed at a high level, setting new marks at nearly every meet this season.

The SCC championship meet was no different, as athletes from both the boys and girls teams finished in the top five in multiple events, set new personal records,

and reset several school records.

Guilford shined both as a team and individually, showcasing its talent among the rest of the conference.

The Guilford girls team placed sixth overall out of 20 teams and scored 35.5 points. The total marked the most team points scored since 2018 and the program’s highest finish in eight years.

The Guilford boys finished just outside the top 10 in the conference, placing 11th with 16 points.

Individually, the Guilford girls were led by sophomore Kaylin Diglio, who turned in an impressive all-around performance. Diglio placed first in the pole vault at 11 feet, won the 55meter hurdles in 8.76 seconds, and anchored a third-place finish in the 4x400 relay.

Diglio broke two school records at the conference championship. Her time in the 55 hurdles broke her own record set earlier this season, and the girls 4x400 relay team of Maddie Aguilar, Ashlyn Meehan, Anna Gunderson, and Diglio set a new school record

with a time of 4:14.

Based on her overall performance, Diglio was voted the Southern Connecticut Conference girls most outstanding athlete of the meet. Other point scorers included the girls 4x800 relay team of Aguilar, Gunderson, Dalia Dadak, and Olivia Jackson, which placed second in 10:13. Meehan placed sixth in the high jump at 4 feet, 8 inches, and Jackson placed sixth in the 1,600 meters with a time of 5:34.

The Guilford boys were led by senior Ben Glascoff, who placed third in the 55 hurdles with a time of 8.34 and also placed third in the long jump with a leap of 21 feet, 11.5 inches to break his own school record.

Senior Wes Tandler recorded a personal best in the shot put at 43 feet, 6 inches to place fifth, while the boys 4x800 relay team of Tyler Mezrich, Caleb Hanson, Ferris Austin, and Gabe Grassi placed fifth in 8:43.

The track teams will next be in action Thursday, Feb. 12, competing in the Class L State Championships.

The Hunt for the Postseason Continues; Guilford and West Haven tie, 1-1

By Serenity J. Bishop

Sports Editor

The chase to qualify for the state tournament is in full swing as the winter sports regular season comes to a close. Teams across the state are focusing on claiming the coveted eight wins, and the Guilford and West Haven co-op boys ice hockey teams are no different.

On Feb. 7, both teams met at the rink hoping either to qualify for the tournament or take one step closer. Guilford entered the game 7-6 and needed just one win to solidify its season. West Haven needed three wins after entering the game 5-8-1.

After an intense, chippy battle that resulted in an additional overtime period, the Grizzlies and the Blue Devils both walked away still needing more games to qualify. The teams tied 1-1, a slight step in the right direction.

Guilford coach Ralph Russo said that while the team was unable to punch its ticket to the postseason, he was pleased with the effort it showed throughout the bout against West Haven. He said the team needs to clean some things up to play more efficiently, which would produce more scoring opportunities.

“I loved the effort. We played a highspirited game,” Russo said. “If there are some things to improve on in the game, it’s that we spent a little too much time in our defensive zone in the second and third period. We have to learn how to get some more clears of the puck.”

Russo added that the first period was the best period the team has played all season long.

“It was one of our best play periods of the year,” he said. “We moved the puck well, we got pucks on net, and we generated some good scoring chances…there’s some stuff we can build on going down the rest of the schedule.”

Guilford and West Haven previously played each other early in the season, when the Blue Devils got the best of the Grizzlies, defeating Guilford 3-2. That loss sparked a three-game losing streak for Guilford, but over the last five games, the team has finished 3-1-1.

Russo said that stretch is a testament to the team’s focus on making the state tournament. With very few games remaining in the back half of the season, the team has recommitted to its goal set at the beginning of the year.

“We were gunning for it. We know what eight means, and it’s a goal of the team to

Guilford and West Haven players battle for the puck during a boys ice hockey game Feb. 7 in West Haven. The teams skated to a 1-1 tie after an overtime period.

get that,” Russo said. “We put the effort in to get that. But we’ll go back and work hard in the next game and try to get it the next game.”

The Guilford coach credited the team’s development to increased contributions from younger players, paired with leadership from upperclassmen such as senior defenseman Matthew Hwang and junior forward Thomas Melillo, who scored the Grizzlies’ lone goal.

“We ran three lines today, and all of them did the work defensively,” Russo said. “Some of the younger guys keep getting experience. In the long haul, we’re looking for them to keep getting better. Hopefully, we’re going to have that game going into the playoffs where everything hits.”

West Haven is hoping for the same

result, though it remains further behind Guilford in securing a postseason berth.

Now 5-8-2, the Blue Devils have five more chances, with matchups against Fairfield, Daniel Hand, Milford, Glastonbury, and Notre Dame Prep.

West Haven, a co-op that serves Branford and Seymour, is 2-0-2 in its last four games, with wins over New Milford and Notre Dame Prep and ties against Guilford and Hamden.

West Haven coach Steve Harris said qualifying for the state tournament is something both coaches and players are discussing and emphasizing.

“We’re in the playoff hunt right now, trying to get our eighth win, so I think there is a little more intensity,” Harris said. “The kids want to hit that eighth win. I think they have it in the back of their

minds. The tempo has picked up, and the pace of play has picked up.”

Guilford came out slow in the first period, but in the second period held West Haven to just five shots. [Note: This appears to conflict with earlier comments about first-period play.] The team was unable to capitalize on several scoring chances, but overall was pleased with the tie.

“We got out of here with a tie. I know it’s not a win, but it’s better than a loss,” Russo said. “We’re taking it slow, one game at a time, but we concentrate on trying to get eight. That’s a magic number.”

West Haven returns to Bennett Rink on Friday, Feb. 13, to face Fairfield at 5:30 p.m. Guilford will play Watertown co-op on the road Saturday, Feb. 14, at 7:30 p.m.

Ugly as Sin, Shocking as a Socket

Based on cold-water activity in February, arguably the most interesting fish found in Long Island Sound is the Northern Stargazer (Astroscopus guttatus). If one values bizarre, electric, ambush predators as opposed to traditional, coldhardy staples like white perch, Atlantic herring, and holdover striped bass, then this is the fish to add to your bucket list. These highly curious and intriguing fish are practically alien-looking from the first sighting to the last. They are interesting because they bury themselves completely in the sand, leaving only their eyes and upward-facing mouths visible to ambush prey. Mostly, they can be found from Connecticut and New York south to North Carolina. Growing on average to 22 pounds, to only 8-18” long and maxing out at 22”, they are dark brown with white spots on their head and pack quite a punch.

These Stargazers are a benthic species, meaning that they frequent the ecological region, the lowest level of a water body. For them, that generally means they can be found at depths of up to 120 feet, much shallower, and even in the surf. What makes them unique is that they possess specialized, defensive electric organs behind their eyes that can deliver 50 volt electric shocks. If that was not enough, they have poisonous spines by their pectoral fins as well. Adding their looks, a set of menacing chops, electric organs, and venomous spines, it is no wonder this species has been labeled ’the meanest fish in creation’ and sometimes referred to as a “toe-grinder.”

Northern Stargazers can easily electrocute a fish, or their venom can cause intense pain, swelling, and in severe cases, muscle paralysis due to their ciguatoxin, that cause ciguatera. As anyone allergic to seafood can testify, it’s no fun! In some parts of the world, though, they are considered a delicacy, and when prepared properly, they are not poisonous when eaten or, for that matter, not fatal to humans if accidentally contacted. Be careful not to confuse the northern stargazer (shocking) with the oyster toadfish (nonshocking), but both are similarly ‘ugly’ and have venomous spines - typically not fatal to humans.

Even though northern stargazers are being caught and interacting with people in the Long Island Sound and surrounding New York waters, they are considered common, though they are rarely seen. An International Game Fish Association (IGFA ) all-tackle record of 11Lbs, 12oz

CAPTAIN MORGAN’S

Fishing report

was reeled in off Long Island by Daniel Gilmore, Jr., of Oceanside, NY on May 5, 2024. Caught on a round jig head and soft pink plastic, his catch was monumental! Another one weighing 9Lbs.13oz was caught in the Sound while “bouncing a bucktail for fluke.” Being that northern stargazers can tolerate the cold February water temperatures of the Long Island Sound, and if you are up for a winter challenge, go for it!

On The Water:

the waters, casting down the reality of another winter storm hitting our shores. Weak pressure then built in and remained in control until a weak low passed not too far to the south. Bone-chilling temperatures held tight but then gradually climbed into the 30’s, opening the way to another short three-day thaw before reversing the trend that eventually brought some more snow. More sun broke through during this latest stretch of weather; however, pre-dawn temps did dip into singledigits (-20ºF wind chill), though mostly remaining in the teens. Meanwhile, Long Island Sound, after days of small craft and gale force warnings, calmed down from gusty 50 knot northwesterly/westerly winds to more manageable 5-10 knot winds, 6-foot to 1-2 foot seas, and water temps settling between 30-32ºF.

recent trout stockings prior to the weather complicating fishing plans. That included popping ice holes or refreshing those previously drilled in lakes and ponds that continued to give up multiple trout species, heavy chain pickerel, large yellow perch, over-sized black crappie, and bluegills that this time around played hard to get. Atlantic salmon catches were a little tougher, Seeforellen brown trout catches were hit or miss, but striped bass in select coves were considered a bonus. There were a few largemouth bass brought up, but not many. Hard water still remained ‘iffy’ south of I-9,5 but farther north, ice thickness was much better as long as temperatures held, wind remained calm, and snow packs were workable. It should be about a week before we see signs of another thaw. Ready for the spotlight? Email us your fishing photos to share with our shoreline

and worldwide community. Through our comprehensive involvement, we live and breathe inland and marine fishing, delivering weekly columns that don’t try to ‘create’ the fisherman, but instead strive to inform and empower the one you already are.

Tight Lines, Captain Morgan captainmorganusa@hotmail.com captainmorgan-fish.blogspot.com X (formerly twitter) @captmorgan_usa

Hugs and Kisses Bouquet

860-434-2200

Here’s How It Works:

Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!

Orchestra New England Brings BaroqueFest to Battell Chapel March 7

Orchestra New England (ONE) eagerly anticipates the arrival of spring with a “BaroqueFest” concert featuring two concertos by Antonio Vivaldi and one each by J.S. Bach and his son Carl Philip Emanuel Bach.

The concert takes place Saturday, March 7, at 7:30 p.m. at Battell Chapel, located at the corner of Elm and College Streets on Yale’s Old Campus.

ONE’s concertmaster Raphael Ryger will play “Spring” from Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons and will be joined by ONE principal oboist Stephen Wade in J.S. Bach’s Concerto in D minor for Violin and Oboe.

Vivaldi is known for his concertos, especially those for violin, but he wrote almost 40 concertos for bassoon. Rémy Taghavi will solo in the Concerto in E-flat.

ONE flutist Adrianne Greenbaum will perform a showpiece by C.P.E. Bach, Concerto in D Minor.

Viewing a performance in Battell Chapel includes the great joy of experiencing the remarkable acoustics. In many ways, it is the finest performance space in the greater New Haven area.

A celebratory, catered, postconcert reception will take place just across Elm Street in Yale’s Berkeley College Common Room.

Tickets cost $50 reserved seating, $30 general admission, and $5 for students. Tickets are available at the door. Media sponsors are WSHU and WMNR.

For more information or

tickets, contact 203-777-4690 or info@orchestranewengland.org, or www.orchestranewengland .org.

About Orchestra New England

Orchestra New England is one of the most versatile and exciting orchestras in America. The orchestra is committed to quality and innovation, a commitment that has made its artistic achievements possible by generating and nurturing an unusual

workplace and a remarkable orchestra.

ONE was founded in March 1974 as the Yale Theater Orchestra, adopting the name Chamber Orchestra of New England in 1975 and the name Orchestra New England in 1985. Early in its history, ONE began to establish itself as one of the most innovative and critically acclaimed orchestras in the Northeast.

Immediately following its premiere concert, the orchestra and

its founding music director, James Sinclair, recorded an album of premieres for CBS Masterworks.

That was the beginning of a tradition. Today, ONE is unsurpassed among musical ensembles between New York and Boston in the number of commercial recordings it has created. These include CBS Masterworks’s world premiere recording of the Villa-Lobos folk opera, Magdalena, New World Records’s

release of Cole Porter’s first Broadway hit, 50 Million Frenchmen, and both Naxos’s and Koch International Classics’s world premiere recording of orchestral music by Charles Ives. These recordings have met with extraordinary and unanimous critical praise. In June 2023 Naxos released ONE’s new recording of Charles Ives’s complete Sets for Chamber Orchestra.

About the Soloists

Violinist Raphael Ryger was born in Israel and grew up in New York City before returning to Israel and later returning to the U.S. for graduate study in philosophy at Yale. His violin training included some of the greatest pedagogues and mentors in both countries, among them Josef Gingold, Ilona Feher, Dorothy Delay, and Isaac Stern. He has been soloist and concertmaster with many orchestras in Israel and in Connecticut and, since 1988, has been in those capacities with Orchestra New England, with which—then as the Chamber Orchestra of New England—he first performed the Vivaldi “Spring” concerto in the spring of 1983. He appears regularly as a chamber musician in the Lillibridge Ensemble, founded by piano virtuosa Madeleine Forte. In other lives, Ryger has academic publications in computer science and patents in software engineering for patent search.

See page 20

For more Life & Style stories, visit our website, www.zip06.com. To submit events for the calendar, email news@shorepublishing.com.

THURSDAY, FEB. 12

Hollywood Gems:

The Three Musketeers

: 1 p.m. The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, 300 Main St., Old Saybrook. For info or tickets, call 860-510-0453 or visit thekate.org.

Tips for Managing Loneliness

: 1 p.m. Deep River Public Library, 150 Main St. Presented by Wendy Hurwitz. Covers strategies for managing isolation and loneliness followed by a discussion with audience questions. Registration is required. For info or to register, call 860-5266039 or visit deepriverlibrary.libcal.com.

2026 Internship and Career Fair

: 1 to 4 p.m. 101 College St., New Haven. Free admission. Features networking opportunities with more than 30 organizations. Hosted by the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce. For info, visit gnhcc.com/events.

Mojos, Mermaids, Medicine, and 400 Years of Black Women’s Magic with Lindsey Stewart

: 2 p.m. Online event. Book:

The Conjuring of America: Mojos, Mermaids, Medicine, and 400 Years of Black Women’s Magic

. Hosted by the North Branford Libraries through a partnership with the Library Speakers Consortium. For info or to register (required), visit libraryc.org/nbranfordlibraries.

Gracias a la Vida Concert

Gracias a la Vida: Spanish and Latin Songs of Life and Romance.

: 5:30 p.m. Essex Library, 33 West Ave. Features a concert by the Entwyned Early Music group, presenting Free and open to the public. Space is limited; registration is suggested. For info or to register, call the library at 860-767-1560 or visit youressexlibrary.org.

Growing Annuals From Seeds

: 6 p.m. Essex Library, 33 West Ave. Covers plant selections, materials needed, and scheduling, including which annuals are suitable to start indoors. Hosted by the Essex Library in collaboration with the Essex Garden Club. For info or to register, call the library at 860-767-1560 or visit youressexlibrary.org.

Calendar for the Week of February 12, 2026

: 6 p.m.

New Haven Museum, 114 Whitney Ave. Features a presentation by Ainissa Ramirez on Black inventors who contributed to everyday innovations, including New Haven’s Sarah Boone. Preceded by a reception at 5:30 p.m. Free with regular museum admission. Part of the NH250 series. For info or to register, call 203-562-4183 or visit newhavenmuseum.org.

Drive-In Movie Night

: 6 to 6:45 p.m. Killingworth Library, 301 Rte. 81. Children decorate cardboard cars and watch a short film. Smartfood popcorn provided. For info or to register, call 860-663-2000 or visit killingworthlibrary.org.

Guilford Poets Guild: Patricia Cleary Miller

: 6:30 to 8 p.m. Guilford Free Library, 67 Park St. Features an open mic followed by a reading from Patricia Cleary Miller, author of , , and Free and open to all. For info or to register (required), call 203-453-8282 or visit guilfordfreelibrary.org.

Starting a Swan Dive Can You Smell the Rain? Warmer Than Yesterday.

Orchestra New England Brings BaroqueFest to Battell Chapel March 7

Continued from page 19

Oboist Stephen Wade has performed throughout New England with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, Connecticut Opera Orchestra, New Haven Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Pro Musica, Monadnock Music Festival Orchestra, Nashua Symphony Orchestra, Boston Virtuosi, Cape Ann Symphony, Orchestra New England, and Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra. He has been the featured soloist in concerti by J.S. Bach, Handel, Haydn, Mozart, Vaughn Williams, Samuel Barber, and William Bolcom. In 2011, he premiered the Concerto for Oboe and Wind Ensemble by Thomas Briggs with the United States Coast Guard Band. He and violinist Katheryn Winterstein have recorded Bach’s Concerto for Oboe, Violin and Strings, BWV 1060, with Boston Virtuosi. Wade retired as principal oboe of the U.S. Coast Guard Band in 2012 after a 30year career. He is currently assistant principal oboe of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra and principal oboe of Orchestra

New England, as well as president of the Regional Orchestra Players’ Association, the largest of the five Player Conferences of the American Federation of Musicians.

Classical Review

See page 22

Washington

Praised for his “precise fingerwork…and impeccable breath support” ( ), Re•my Taghavi is a highly sought-after bassoonist based in the Northeast. Taghavi is principal bassoon of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra and Orchestra New England, and he has performed with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, and Las Vegas Philharmonic, among others. An active chamber musician, he is co-founder of the Annapolis Chamber Music Festival, a member of the “explosive” New York-based chamber ensemble Frisson, and an alumnus of Carnegie Hall’s teaching artist and chamber music program, Ensemble Connect. He has given chamber performances at the Library of Congress, Chamber Music Northwest, and Morgan Library, among others. Rémy has performed as a soloist with the New York Symphonic Ensemble,

Pierre Monteux Festival, and the Stony Brook Symphony. Taghavi is assistant professor of bassoon at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and faculty at Rocky Ridge Music (Colorado). He completed degrees at the University of Southern California, The Juilliard School, and Stony Brook University.

Adrianne Greenbaum, professor of flute at Mount Holyoke College and pioneer of the klezmer flute tradition, is a nationally acclaimed flutist and clinician, performing on historical instruments of the 18th and 19th centuries. Her classical training and career ranks among the finest flutists of her time. As a classical musician, she performed as soloist and orchestral musician in all of New York’s major concert halls and in many major U.S. cities. She appeared with such prestigious orchestras as New York’s Mostly Mozart Festival, Berlin Ballet at the Met, Period Orchestra of the Fairfield Academy and, for many years, performed with the New York City Ballet Orchestra. She is solo flutist with the Wall Street Chamber Players and

maintains an active freelance life in the U.S. and Canada. Greenbaum’s decadeslong symphonic career was as principal of the New Haven Symphony for over three decades and happily maintains her principal position with Orchestra New England. Her college/university positions are many, including faculty positions at Wesleyan and Yale universities and at Smith College. She also enjoys giving master classes in klezmer techniques, traverso exploration, and improvisation across genres. She can be heard in recording on the Koch and Music Masters labels as well as her own solo classical album “Sounds of America” and her three FleytMuzik records. Her last klezmer flute record, on the BorshtBeat label is “Di Klezmer Flute Nisht Fargesen.” She has received acclaim for her “flying-finger performances and unique, soulful, and sparkling klezmer style: “Adrianne is a force of nature. Nobody plays like her. If Jethro Tull played klezmer, the energy would be there—but not her skill,” writes Ari Davidoff (Klezmershack, 2025).

New Haven Museum Marks America’s 250th Year with Triple Events

In what amounts to a “250 trifecta,” New Haven Museum kicks off a lively, yearlong celebration of the nation’s semiquincentennial with the first of three presentations offering fresh perspectives on the American Revolution. From social movements co-opting the concept of liberty, to little-known tales of Paul Revere, to neoclassical fashion from the somewhat cynical perspective of John and Abigail Adams, the thought-provoking NH250 series will appeal to anyone who has ever marveled at the “great American experiment” of democracy, freedom, and self-governance.

The series begins with historian and author Michael D. Hattem presenting “An Unfinished Revolution at 250” at the New Haven Museum on Wednesday, Feb. 25, at 6 p.m. Hattem will discuss the unique role that the Revolution has had in American life and the longstanding tradition in American history of remembering the nation’s founding as an “unfinished revolution.” The free event will be preceded by a reception at 5:30 p.m. Hattem notes that the principles of the Revolution have been constantly redefined to fit the needs of the times. “Countless social movements—including abolitionists, suffragists, and the Civil Rights movements of the 1960s and 1970s—have tried to win popular support by depicting their causes as attempts to fulfill the ideals of the American Revolution,” he says. He notes that abolitionists were the first Americans to celebrate the Declaration of Independence specifically for its preamble and the statement that “all men are created equal.”

On Saturday, March 28, textile expert Lynne Bassett will present “Federalist Fathers and Republican Mothers: The Fashions of John and Abigail Adams.” Using letters, garments, portraits, fashion plates, and satirical cartoons

from the period to keep things buoyant, Bassett will demonstrate how both early and contemporary Americans have expressed their national and personal character through their clothing choices. The free event will be held at 2 p.m. and preceded by a reception at 1:30 p.m. Bassett maintains that fashion isn’t frivolous. “It’s an important document manifesting a period’s culture, economy, and labor,” she says, “and a valuable means of examining women’s history.” She notes that John and Abigail both expressed their personal and national character through their choice of clothing. Their judgment of people’s choices in fashion, though, brings some levity to the subject. One example includes a letter in which Abagail quips, “Most of [the Ladies]…wear their Cloaths too Scant, upon the body & too full upon the Bosom for my fancy; not content with the Show Which nature bestows, they borrow from art, and literally looke like Nursing Mothers.”

On Saturday, April 18, the anniversary of the most famous horse ride in American history, author Kostya Kennedy will present little-known aspects of the story in “The Ride: Paul Revere and the Night that Saved America,” based on his book of the same title. The free event will be held at 2 p.m. and preceded by a reception at 1:30 p.m.

Revere, the Boston-based silversmith, engraver, and staunch anti-British political operative, inspired the poem and legend of “The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere.” But, according to Kennedy, the story of Revere’s ride to warn of approaching British troop is deeper and richer than previously assumed.

“That night in 1775 was 12 hours that changed the world,” Kennedy says.

Revere was not the only rider that April night in 1775, but he was by far the most critical. The patriots’ best and

most trusted “express rider,” Revere had already completed at least 18 previous rides throughout New England, disseminating intelligence about British movements.

But this ride was like no other, Kennedy asserts, and its consequences in the months and years following—as the American Revolution transitioned from isolated skirmishes to a full-fledged war—became one of our founding tales.

About NH250

This event is part of NH250, an ongoing series of programming developed by New Haven Museum to complement “America 250.” Culminating with the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the series will highlight inclusive, local, and lesser-known stories, connecting past and present.

About the New Haven Museum

The New Haven Museum has been collecting, preserving, and interpreting the history and heritage of Greater New Haven since its inception as the New Haven Colony Historical Society in 1862. Located in downtown New Haven at 114 Whitney Avenue, the museum brings more than 375 years of New Haven history to life through its collections, exhibitions, programs, and outreach. As a designated Blue Star Museum, the New Haven Museum offers the nation’s active-duty military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve, free admission from Memorial Day through Labor Day. For more information, call 203-562-4183 or visit newhavenmuseum.org or Facebook.com/NewHaven Museum.

Continued from page 20

Bird Migration in Offshore Wind Energy Areas: Informing Collision Risk and Mitigation

: 7 p.m. Webinar. Presented by Shannon Curley, a migration ecologist studying offshore bird movements using weather surveillance radar to help inform wind energy development. Part of the 2026 Young, Gifted, and Wild About Birds series. Hosted by the Connecticut Audubon Society. Cost: $9 for members, $12 for nonmembers. Proceeds benefit the Connecticut Audubon Society conservation programs. For info or to register, visit ctaudubon.org/2026.

: 7:30 p.m. The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, 300 Main St., Old Saybrook. For info or tickets, call 860-510-0453 or visit thekate.org.

FRIDAY, FEB. 13

: 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saybrook Point Resort and Marina, 2 Bridge St., Old Saybrook. Features a talk by Linda Albright of Albright AI Agency on "AI Without the Hype: How Women Business Owners Are Using AI to Grow Their Companies and Free Up Time.” Hosted by the Greater Old Saybrook Chamber. Cost: $25 for members, $35 for nonmembers For info or to register, visit oldsaybrookchamber.com/events.

Writers Writing

: 1 to 2:30 p.m. Killingworth Library, 301 Rte. 81. Features an adult writers group exploring various genres. Sharing optional. For info or to register (required), call 860-663-2000 or visit killingworthlibrary.org.

: 5 to 7 p.m. Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library, 146 Thimble Islands Rd., Stony Creek. Led by Branford Poet Laureate Judith Liebmann. To register, call 203-488-8702. For info, visit wwml.org.

: 5:30 p.m. Essex Library, 33 West Ave. Features a concert by the Entwyned Early Music group, presenting Spanish and Latin songs of life and romance, performed on reproduction historical instruments. Free and open to the public. Space is limited; registration is suggested. For info or to register, call the library at 860-767-1560 or visit youressexlibrary.org.

:

5:30 to 7 p.m. Branford Arts & Cultural Alliance (BACA) Gallery, 1004 Main St., Branford. Features new work by 50 artists in painting, drawing, printmaking, mixed media, photography, sculpture, ceramics, turned wood, textiles, and jewelry. Light fare and refreshments will be available. Free. For info, visit bacagallery.org.

: 6 to 8 p.m. Guilford Art Center, 411 Church St. For participants ages 21 and up. BYOB. No partner needed. No art skills required. Cost: $27 for members, $30 for nonmembers. To register, visit guilfordartcenter.org. For info, call 203453-5947.

SoMA Creative Crawl

: 6 to 9 p.m. RiverFire Glass Studio at SoMA, 500 Main St., Deep River. Features three mini workshops for participants to create winter watercolors landscape with Shell & Bee, make a glass fusion dish with RiverFire Glass, and learn from an introduction to social dance with River Valley Dance Project. Cost: $72. Service fees apply. Child care available through Artsistic Babysitter. For info or to register, call 860-864-5004 or visit riverfireglass.com.

Author Event: James Ponti

: 6:30 p.m. R.J. Julia Booksellers, 768 Boston Post Rd., Madison. Book: . For info or to register (required), call 203-245-3959 or visit rjjulia.com.

Open Mic with Terri Lachance

: 7 to 9 p.m. Nightingale’s Acoustic Café, 68 Lyme St., Old Lyme. Minimum three songs for each performer, more if time allows. House piano and sound system available. Admission: $5 donation at the door. For info, visit musicnowfoundation.org.

Yale Concert Band Winter Concert

: 7:30 to 10 p.m.

Woolsey Hall, 500 College St., New Haven. Features a performance with Thomas C. Duffy, music director. Free admission. For info, call 203-432-4111 or visit bands.yalecollege.yale.edu.

Concert by Mullett

: 8 p.m. The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, 300 Main St., Old Saybrook. For info or tickets, call 860-510-0453 or visit thekate.org.

SATURDAY, FEB. 14

37th Annual Eagle Watch on the Connecticut River

:

8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Meet at The Audubon Shop, 907 Boston Post Rd., Madison at 7:45 a.m. or the first stop at Haddam, Eagle Landing State Park, at 8:30 a.m. Features a land-based trip along the shore of the Connecticut River to spot bald eagles and other wintering birds from a variety of locations and discuss the birds’ natural history. Not a boat trip. Led by Jerry Connolly of The Audubon Shop. Cost: $33, includes soup and sandwich lunch at Otter Cove Restaurant, Old Saybrook. Binoculars recommended and available to rent. Pre-payment required. For info or to register (required), call 203-245-9056 or visit theaudubonshop.com/events.

Saturday Sleuths Book Club

The Mystery Guest

: 10 to 11:30 a.m. E.C. Scranton Memorial Library, 801 Boston Post Rd., Madison. Book: by Nita Prose. Snacks will be provided. For info or to register (required), call 203-245-7365 or visit scranton.librarycalendar.com.

Sweetheart Twill Weaves Workshop Europa

: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Guilford Art Center, 411 Church St. Participants will use 100% cotton loop materials from a New England familyowned mill and a sturdy metal peg loom to create a coordinating pair of potholders. Printed weaving charts and cotton weaving loops are included in materials fee. Bring embroidery scissors. Metal peg loom and hooks will be available in class for $20 purchase. Cost: $37.80 for members, $42 for nonmembers. Materials fee of $12 is payable with the tuition. To register, visit guilfordartcenter.org. For info, call 203-453-5947.

: 10:30 a.m. Essex Library, 33 West Ave. For ages 5 to 12. Participants will cut, tie, and stuff a heart-shaped pillow—no sewing required. Free. Registration is required. For info or to register, call 860-767-1560 or visit youressexlibrary.org.

Kids Create: No-Sew Heart Pillow Bird Valentines

: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Killingworth Library, 301 Rte. 81. For children up to age 8 and their families. Participants make pine cone and Victorian-style birdthemed Valentines. For info or to register, call 860-6632000 or visit killingworthlibrary.org.

Stop Motion Animation Workshop

: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Chester Public Library, 21 W. Main St. Drop-ins welcome but space is limited. Participants may stay longer to finish their projects. For info or to register, contact 860-5260018 or ChesterKidLib@gmail.com.

Cool-ology: Valentine’s Day Science

: 11 a.m. Henry Carter Hull Library, 10 Killingworth Turnpike, Clinton. Features hands-on science activities themed for Valentine’s Day, including chemistry experiments and engineering challenges. For grades 1 to 5. Registration is required. For info or to register, call 860-669-2342 or visit hchlibrary.org.

: 1 p.m. The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, 300 Main St., Old Saybrook. Shown on The Kate’s big screen. Running time: 210 minutes. For info or tickets, call 860-510-0453 or visit thekate.org.

Met in HD Encore: Saturday Cinema

: 2 p.m. Acton Public Library, 60 Old Boston Post Rd., Old Saybrook. Tea and light refreshments served. Free and open to all. Registration suggested. For info, including the movie title, or to register (required), call 860-395-3184 or visit actonlibrary.org.

Movie Screening

: Noon to 3 p.m. Smith Library, 3 Old Post Rd., Northford. Screening of a musical film. Registration is required. For info, including the movie title, or to register, call 203-484-0469 or visit northbranford.librarycalendar.com.

Jazz Trio at Henry on Main

: 4 p.m. Henry on Main, 10 W. Main St., Clinton. Features live jazz with Ciara Garcia on baritone sax, Eneji Alungbe on bass, and Ohm Soni on drums. Cost: $10 at the door. For info, call 860-669-2342.

Teddy Bear Clinic

: 5 to 6 p.m. Atwater Memorial Library, 1720 Foxon Rd., North Branford. Children ages 2 to 10 may bring a stuffed animal or doll for a pretend medical checkup using tools such as stethoscopes and bandages. Registration is required. For info or to register, call 203315-6020 or visit northbranford.librarycalendar.com.

Concert by Roomful of Blues

: 8 p.m. The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, 300 Main St., Old Saybrook. Tickets: $45. For info or tickets, call 860-510-0453 or visit thekate.org.

Ivoryton Playhouse Announces America 250 Season

Over the past 96 years, the Ivoryton Playhouse has showcased onstage a wide variety of stories and music from around the world.

In 2026, Ivoryton Playhouse will present a special season, an American celebration to mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It will be a tribute to American history, music, and shared experiences in a theatre that feels like home.

The America 250 season opens on Thursday, March 26, with an old favorite—a hilarious celebration of the Nutmeg State. is a wacky, sweet, romantic comedy by Connecticut native Mike Reiss, who has been making viewers all laugh for years as a writer with . Why does sweet, kind Marc struggle to find love? Because he comes from Connecticut, a land of steady habits, sanity, and politeness. The show runs through Sunday, April 19.

unlikeliest of places. The show runs Thursday, Aug. 6, through Sunday, Sept. 6.

Piece of My Heart

This year is also the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, Navy, and Marine Corps. Honoring the veterans who served and continue to serve this country reminds all that patriotism is not just a sentiment but a practice. by Shirley Lauro follows the true stories of six women—five nurses and an entertainer—who served in Vietnam. The significant role that women played in the war is often unacknowledged. Their stories and music are powerful, a reminder of the human cost of war and the scars that still remain. The show runs Thursday, Oct. 1, through Sunday, Oct. 25.

Playhouse Holiday Jamboree

Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill

On Thursday, May 7, Ivoryton Playhouse takes a step back in time to South Philadelphia in 1959. by Lanie Robertson is a Tony Award-winning play that brings to life the soul and struggles of jazz legend Billie Holiday. Featuring a selection of Holiday’s iconic songs, including “Strange Fruit” and “God Bless the Child,” this acclaimed play with music transports the audience on a spellbinding journey for one of the jazz legend’s final concerts.

In June and July, Ivoryton Playhouse celebrates America 250 with the founding fathers who come alive in the glorious musical by Sherman Edwards and Peter Stone. This powerful, award-winning Broadway show brings the story of the nation’s founding to life. The show highlights John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson as they fight for independence against a dead-

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SATURDAY, FEB. 14 AND

SUNDAY, FEB. 15

Maple Sugaring Time

: Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Dudley Farm Museum, 2351 Durham Rd., Guilford. Weather permitting, volunteers will demonstrate traditional maple sugaring methods at the sugar house behind the Quinnipiac Dawnland Museum and Munger Barn. Features sap collection and syrup-making using a historic “cooker,” along with woodfired cooking, stories, and hands-on opportunities. Continues Wednesday, Feb. 21, and Thursday, Feb. 22. For info, call 203-457-0770 or visit dudleyfarm.com.

Victorian Valentine Pop-up Exhibit

: Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dudley Farm Museum, 2351 Durham Rd., Guilford. Features a pop-up exhibit of Victorian-era valentines, including German and Austrian paper-engineered designs popular from the 1890s through the 1920s, as well as Vinegar Valentines, also known as Mock Valentines. For info, call 203-4570770 or visit dudleyfarm.com.

Come From Away

locked Continental Congress in a retelling filled with humor, romance, pathos, and nail-biting tension. It’s revolutionary! The show runs Thursday, June 25, through Sunday, July 26. by Irene Sankoff and David Hein tells the true story of 7,000 airline passengers stranded in the remote town of Gander, Newfoundland, in the aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001. In a moment filled with fear and uncertainty, joy and resilience prevail as the tiny community of Gander pulls together and strangers become friends. Through exuberant music, humor, and heart, this show celebrates the power of human connection, proves that kindness can bring people together in the most difficult of times, and affirms that hope can arise in the

SUNDAY, FEB.

15

Tractor Parade

: 1 to 3 p.m. Main Street, Chester. Tractors roll at 1:30 p.m. Includes music and chili. Proceeds benefit the Chester Hose Company. For info, visit facebook.com/chesterct.

Sewiong Sunday: Make Your Own Heart Bag

: 1:30 to 4 p.m. Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library, 146 Thimble Islands Rd., Stony Creek. Beginner-friendly project. Limited spots.To register (required), call 203-488-8702. For info, visit wwml.org.

Film Screening and Q&A: Eva’s Promise

: 3 p.m. Oliva

Eva’s Promise

Hall, Cummings Art Center, Connecticut College, New London. Free screening of the documentary , followed by a question-and-answer session with director Steve McCarthy and co-producer Susan Kerner, moderated by Rabbi Jessica Goldberg. Presented by the Lyman Allyn Art Museum in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Eastern Connecticut and Connecticut College. Free and open to the public. Registration is required. For info or to register, contact 860-443-2545, ext. 2129, or info@lymanallyn.org.

Playhouse Holiday Jamboree

The Playhouse also continues its tradition with the holiday show, by Katie Barton and Ben Hope, which features festive tunes, family stories, and some new surprises. Inspired by classic radio shows and old-time musical revues, is the perfect holiday show for the whole family. What better way to end a special birthday year! The show runs Thursday, Nov. 19, through Sunday, Dec. 20.

Gift certificates and subscriptions are on sale now. Subscriptions are a great way to save money and support live theater, and they make great holiday gifts. Six- and three-play subscriptions are available now. Single tickets will go on sale Tuesday, March 3.

About Ivoryton Playhouse

Ivoryton Playhouse, located at 103 Main Street, is a renowned small professional theater on the Shoreline. It is known for its exceptional productions and commitment to creating unforgettable experiences for audiences of all ages.

For more information or tickets, call 860-767-7318 or visit www.ivorytonplayhouse.org. A

: 7 p.m.

MONDAY,

FEB. 16

Youth Art Class: Artistic Penguins

The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, 300 Main St., Old Saybrook. For info or tickets, call 860-510-0453 or visit thekate.org. : 10 a.m. to noon. Branford Arts & Cultural Alliance (BACA) Gallery, 1004 Main St. Features a winter-themed art class where participants will create an artistic penguin project. For ages 8 to 12. Led by artist Sharon Hart. Cost: $10. For info or to register, contact 203-232-4384 or baca06405@gmail.com.

Teen Drawing Class

: 1 to 3 p.m. Branford Arts & Cultural Alliance (BACA) Gallery, 1004 Main St., Branford. Features a drawing skills class where participants refine their techniques and explore creative expression. For ages 12 to 18. Led by instructor Edith Reynolds. Cost: $10. For info or to register, contact 203-232-4384 or baca06405@gmail.com.

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TUESDAY, FEB. 17

Annual Madison and Clinton Chamber Joint Business After Hours Event

Kate Classic Film: Math Mania

Senior Series 2: All About Senior Living Communities

: 2 and 7 p.m. The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, 300 Main St., Old Saybrook. For info or tickets, call 860-510-0453 or visit thekate.org.

: 4 to 5 p.m. Killingworth Library, 301 Rte. 81. Elementary-age students will play math games with the theme of Abe Lincoln and money. For info or to register, call 860-663-2000 or visit killingworthlibrary.org.

LEGO STEM Club

: 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. Killingworth Library, 301 Rte. 81. For grades 1 to 4. Participants will explore engineering concepts with a focus on "logo shadows." For info or to register, call 860-663-2000 or visit killingworthlibrary.org.

Calligraphy that Inspired a Nation

: 6 p.m. Acton Public Library, 60 Old Boston Post Rd., Old Saybrook. Features a 90-minute workshop on colonial calligraphy using dip nib and ink. Includes signature-making activity. Sponsored by the Friends of Acton Public Library. Free and open to all. Registration suggested. For info, call 860-3953184 or visit actonlibrary.org.

Pickin’ Party

: 6 to 8 p.m. Nightingale’s Acoustic Cafe, 68 Lyme St., Old Lyme. Features a performance by blues musician Ramblin’ Dan Stevens. Tickets: $5 at the door. For info, call 860-434-1961 or visit danstevens.net or musicnowfoundation.org/events.

Author Event: Rick Tulsky in Conversation with Emily Bazelon

: 7 p.m. R.J. Julia Booksellers, 768 Boston Post Rd., Madison. Book:

: 5:30 to 7 p.m. Donahue’s Beach Grille, 1320 Boston Post Rd., Madison. Co-sponsored by the Madison and Clinton Chambers of Commerce. For info, contact the Madison Chamber at 203-245–7394 or chamber@madisonct.com, or visit madisonct.com.

Family Paint Night: Tiny Art Returns

: 6 p.m. Acton Public Library, 60 Old Boston Post Rd., Old Saybrook. Participants create tiny art pieces for the community exhibit. Supplies provided. Free and open to all. Registration suggested. For info, call 860-395-3184 or visit actonlibrary.org.

Books and Boos

: 6 p.m. R.J. Julia Booksellers, 768 Boston Post Rd., Madison. Sponsored by R.J. Julia Booksellers. For info or to register, call 203-245-3959 or visit rjjulia.com.

10 Things Every Baby Boomer Should Know About Cremation

: 6 p.m. Henry Carter Hull Library, 10 Killingworth Turnpike, Clinton. Features an informational presentation on cremation planning for adults born between 1946 and 1964 and their families. Registration is required. For info or to register, call 860-669-2342 or visit hchlibrary.org.

Writing Injustice Book Discussion:

: 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. The Orchard House, 421 Shore Dr., Branford. Cost: $10. Second in a six-part educational series designed for older adults and the adult children who support them. Each session offers practical guidance on topics related to aging in place, downsizing, home care, and senior living options. Participants can attend any or all sessions; there is no obligation to attend the full series. Sponsored by Shoreline Adult Education. For info or to register (required), call 203-488-5693 or visit shorelineadulted.org.

Chinese New Year

: 6 to 6:45 p.m. Killingworth Library, 301 Rte. 81. For elementary-age students. Includes story time, a horse decoration craft, and noisemaking to welcome the Year of the Horse. For info or to register, call 860-663-2000 or visit killingworthlibrary.org.

Art Talk with Curator Mallory Mortillaro: Exciting Discoveries in Art History

: 6:30 p.m. Via Zoom. Sponsored by the Essex Library, 33 West Ave. Second in a two-part series. Free and open to all. For info or to register (required), call the library at 860-767-1560 or visit the events calendar link at youressexlibrary.org.

Our Salt Marshes and the History of Salt Marsh Haymaking in New England

. For info or to register (required), call 203-245-3959 or visit rjjulia.com.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 18

Ash on the Dash

Afternoon Pick Your Project

Comic Crew: Morning Glory Warrior Cats

: 7 p.m. E.C. Scranton Memorial Library, 801 Boston Post Rd., Guilford. Led by Hazel V. Carby and Donna Daniels, this session explores Zora Neale Hurston’s 1937 novel about independence, love, and self-discovery. Copies available at the Reference Desk. Free. Registration required. For info or to register, visit scrantonlibrary.org.

: 6:30 p.m. E.C. Scranton Memorial Library, 801 Boston Post Rd., Guilford. Presented by Shaun Roche of the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge. Features historic images and stories of sustainable farming along coastal marshes. Co-sponsored by the Guilford Conservation Commission. Free. For info or to register (required), visit scrantonlibrary.org.

Shoreline Sailing Club Event:

: 7 to 8 a.m. North Branford Congregational Church, 1680 Foxon Rd. (Rte. 80), North Branford. Drive-through Ash Wednesday observance offering ashes in the church parking lot. For info, email nobfdcong@sbcglobal.net.

: 1 to 3:30 p.m. RiverFire Glass Studio at SoMA, 500 Main St., Deep River. Features a beginner to advanced beginner class depending on what the participant wants to make. Closed-toe shoes, long pants, and safety glasses are required. Bring an N95 facemask in case glass powder is involved in the class. No prior experience required. Cost: $64. Service fees apply. Some beginner projects may require additional fee paid in cash, check, or Venmo on the day of class. For info or to register, call 860-864-5004 or visit riverfireglass.com.

Injustice Town: A Corrupt City, a Wrongly Convicted Man, and a Struggle for Freedom Warrior Cats

: 4 p.m. Essex Library, 33 West Ave. For ages 8 to 12. Features games, contests, crafts, and activities inspired by the graphic novel series. Free. Registration required. For info or to register, call 860-767-1560 or visit youressexlibrary.org.

THURSDAY, FEB. 19

Book Club Shoreline Village Tea and Talk

7 p.m. Clark Memorial Field, 210 Elm St., Old Saybrook. For active singles 35 and over. New members are welcome and sailing experience is not necessary. Cost: free for members and first-time guests, $10 for others. BYOB. For info, visit shorelinesailingclub.com.

The Frozen River: A Novel

: Noon to 2 p.m. Atwater Memorial Library, 1720 Foxon Rd., North Branford. Book: by Ariel Lawhon. For info or to register, call 203315-6020 or visit northbranford.librarycalendar.com.

: 2 to 3:30 p.m. Shoreline Diner, 345 Boston Post Rd. Guilford. Features a conversation with members of Shoreline Village CT (SVCT). For info or to RSVP, contact 203-747-5939 or info@ShorelineVillageCT.org.

Junior Librarians Their Eyes Were Watching God

: 4 p.m. Essex Library, 33 West Ave. Second in a four-session program for ages 8 to 12 offering a behind-the-scenes look at library operations with the children’s and teen librarians. Participants will learn how librarians select books for the collection, how much they can spend, and how they decide when it is time for a book to retire. Free. Commitment to all four sessions and celebration is expected. For info or to register (required), call 860-767-1560 or visit youressexlibrary.org.

: 7 to 8 p.m. Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library, 146 Thimble Islands Rd., Stony Creek. Book: Held in the Keyes Gallery. For info, call 203-488-8702 or visit wwml.org.

Author Event: Gish Jen in Conversation with Barbara Pearce Concert by Journeyman (Tribute to Eric Clapton)

:

7:30 p.m. The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, 300 Main St., Old Saybrook. For info or tickets, call 860510-0453 or visit thekate.org.

FRIDAY, FEB. 20 AND SATURDAY, FEB. 21

Stage Door Medium Live With Jimmy Moses Bad Bad Girl

: 7 p.m.

The Legacy Theatre, 128 Thimble Islands Rd., Stony Creek. Features live audience readings and an interactive Q&A with Stage Door Medium Jimmy Moses. For info or tickets, call the box office at 203-315-1901 or visit legacytheatrect.org.

See page 25

Saint Ann’s Griswold Forum

Hosts Decoda

Saint Ann’s Parish in Old Lyme presents members of Decoda at the church’s Griswold Forum on Sunday, Feb 22, at 9:30 a.m.

Members of Decoda, affiliate ensemble of Carnegie Hall, will talk about their unique group and their ongoing creative community projects in prisons, community centers, hospitals, and shelters, with a special focus on their community engagement work for Musical Masterworks, a chamber music series in southeastern Connecticut.

Attendees will learn about the songwriting workshop that Decoda will have just concluded during their weeklong residency at Cheshire Correctional Institute and the challenges associated with working in incarceration facilities in general.

Decoda will also share some lyrics from the inmates’ newly written songs and perform some of the music, in arrangements for an ensemble of oboe, bassoon, viola, and cello. Members will also share reflections on their experience presenting workshops at Vista Life Innovations, a community center for adults with chronic neurological impairments located in Madison. As Musical Masterworks’ ensemble-in-

residence for community engagement for the past four years, Decoda has worked with students at Fitch High School in Groton, as well as with students at Waterford Country School. All these residencies help to build confidence, trust, and skills in the participants, proving that music is a force for connection, empowerment and transformation.

“For four years, Decoda has helped Musical Masterworks deepen its commitment to community engagement, using music as a bridge between people, experiences, and voices that are too often unheard,” said Mic Herring, executive director of Musical Masterworks. “Their work shows the extraordinary impact that creativity can have in fostering empathy and belonging.”

Rev. Anita Louise Schell, Saint Ann’s rector, added, “Saint Ann’s is delighted to host Decoda in this Griswold Forum, where we can shine a light on the remarkable work that they and Musical Masterworks have been doing in our communities.”

Saint Ann’s Church is located at 82 Shore Road, Old Lyme. All are welcome to attend this presentation.

For more information, call 860-4341621.

FRIDAY, FEB. 20

Crescendo and Cayenne: A Mardi Gras Epicurean Dinner and Blues Revival

:

7 p.m. Madison Beach Hotel, 94 W. Wharf Rd., Madison. Features a multicourse Mardi Gras–inspired dinner with wine pairings and live blues by Paul Gabriel. Cost: $150. For info or reservations, visit madisonbeachhotel-curio.eventbrite.com or madisonbeachhotelevents.com/hotel/ hotel-happenings.

Concert by Lunasa

: 8 p.m. The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, 300 Main St., Old Saybrook. Tickets: $50. For info or tickets, call 860-510-0453 or visit thekate.org.

SATURDAY, FEB. 21

37th Annual Eagle Watch on the Connecticut River

: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Meet at The Audubon Shop, 907 Boston Post Rd., Madison at 7:45 a.m. or the first stop at Haddam, Eagle Landing State Park, at 8:30 a.m. Jerry Connolly of The Audubon Shop leads this land-based trip along the shore of the Connecticut River to spot bald eagles and other wintering birds from a variety of locations and discuss the birds’ natural history. Not a boat trip. Cost: $33, includes soup and sandwich lunch at Otter Cove Restaurant, Old Saybrook. Binoculars recommended and available to rent. Pre-registration and payment required. For info or to register (required), call 203-245-9056 or visit theaudubonshop.com/events.

Create a Succulent Terrarium

: 10:30 a.m.

Acton Public Library, 60 Old Boston Post Rd., Old Saybrook. Hosted by the Old Saybrook Garden Club. All supplies provided. For grades K to 4. Registration required. For info, call 860-395-3184 or visit actonlibrary.org.

STEAM Saturday: Make Your Fake Snow

: 10:30 a.m. Essex Library, 33 West Ave. Free and open to children in ages 5 to 12. Participants will conduct an experiment to make fake snow that even feels cold. Seating and materials are limited. For info or to register (required), call the library at 860-767-1560 or visit youressexlibrary.org.

Polar Bears and How They Live in the Arctic

register, call 860-663-2000 or visit killingworthlibrary.org.

Chess Workshop Series : Interactive Author Talk

: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Killingworth Library, 301 Rte. 81. For ages 5 and older. Led by Bauer Park educator Julie Ainsworth. Includes interactive learning stations and puppet-making. For info or to

: 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Deep River Public Library, 150 Main St. First in a three-class series featuring instruction from a professional chess coach. Open to children, teens, and adults. Funded by Deep River Cares and sponsored by the Community Foundation of Middlesex Country. For info or to register (required), call 860-526-6039 or visit deepriverlibrary.accountsupport.com.

: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Killingworth Library, 301 Rte. 81. Authorillustrator Adam Wallenta and his son read from their graphic novel, share their creative process, and lead a drawing demonstration. Book signing follows. For info or to register, call 860-663-2000 or visit killingworthlibrary.org. : Noon to 1 p.m. Virtual event. Presented by Alicia Farrell, cognitive psychologist and parenting professional. Designed for parents and caregivers of elementary and intermediate school children. Hosted by HaddamKillingworth Youth & Family Services. For info or to register, visit hkyfs.org.

Author Talk:

Women Marines

Parenting Power Hour Elementary School (K-5): Encouraging Independence and Building a Healthy Relationship with your Children

: 1 to 2 p.m. James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main St., Branford. Guilford author Ellen Creane discusses her book

Musical Women Marines: The Marine Corps Women’s Reserve Band in World War II

, which examines the only all-female Marine Corps band, active from 1943 to 1945. Registration is not required. For info, call 203-488-1441, ext. 318, or visit events.blackstonelibrary.org.

: 3 and 8 p.m. The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, 300 Main St., Old Saybrook. For info or tickets, call 860-510-0453 or visit thekate.org.

: 5 p.m.

Concert by Best of the Eagles (Tribute to Eagles) A Tribute to Jimmy Buffett

Water's Edge Resort & Spa, 1525 Boston Post Rd., Westbrook. Performed by Changes In Latitude. Tickets: $74 per person, includes a buffet dinner. Guests purchasing less than 10 tickets will be seated at tables with other guests. For info or reservations, call 860-399-5901 or visit watersedgeresortandspa.com/events.

Continued from page 24 See page 26

Continued from page 25

: 7 p.m. Shubert Theatre, 247 College St., New Haven. For info or tickets, call the Shubert Box Office at 203-562-5666 or visit Shubert.com.

: 7 to 10 p.m. Time to Dance Ballroom Dance Studio, 45 NE Industrial Rd., Branford. Admission: $20, includes a group lesson from 7 to 7:30 led by Karen Pfrommer. For info, email info@timetodanceballroom.com.

: 8:30 p.m. Madison Beach Hotel, 94 W. Wharf Rd., Madison. Features Jake Kulak and the Modern Vandals, with guest performances by Tommy Castro and James Montgomery. Doors open at 8 p.m. Cost: $45. For info or tickets, call 203-245-1404 or visit eventvesta.com.

SATURDAY, FEB. 21 AND

SUNDAY, FEB. 22

: Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Dudley Farm Museum, 2351 Durham Rd., Guilford. Weather permitting, volunteers will demonstrate traditional maple sugaring methods at the sugar house behind the Quinnipiac Dawnland Museum and Munger Barn. Features sap collection and syrup-making using a historic “cooker,” along with woodfired cooking, stories, and hands-on opportunities. For info, call 203-457-0770 or visit dudleyfarm.com.

: Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dudley Farm Museum, 2351 Durham Rd., Guilford. Features a pop-up exhibit of Victorian-era valentines, including German and Austrian paper-engineered designs popular from the 1890s through the 1920s, as well as Vinegar Valentines, also known as Mock Valentines. For info, call 203-4570770 or visit dudleyfarm.com.

SUNDAY, FEB. 22

: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. YMA Annex, 554 Woodward Ave., New Haven. Sponsored by the New Haven Philatelic Society. For info, visit nhps1914.com.

: 9:30 a.m. Saint Ann’s Church, 82 Shore Rd., Old Lyme. Presented by Steve MacAusland. Part of the church’s Griswold Forum series of lectures. For info, contact 860-434-1621 or office@saintannsoldlyme.org.

: 2 p.m. The Legacy Theatre, 128 Thimble Islands Rd., Branford. Ticket subscriptions are available. Service fees apply. For info or tickets, contact the Legacy Theatre at 203-315-1901 or Info@LegacyTheatreCT.org, or visit legacytheatrect.org.

An Afternoon of Music with Joe Flood

: 2 p.m. E.C. Scranton Memorial Library, 801 Boston Post Rd., Guilford. Features songs from Flood’s upcoming 2026 album and past works. Free. Registration required. For info or to register, visit scrantonlibrary.org.

Essex Winter Series (EWS): Hot and Sweet Music of the 1920s and '30s

: 3 p.m. Valley Regional High School, 256 Kelsey Hill Rd., Deep River. Features Vince Giordano and the jazz orchestra The Nighthawks. Part of the EWS 2026 Season, in the celebration of the 250th anniversary of America’s independence. Tickets: $45, general admission; $5, students through college. For info or tickets, call 860-272-4572 or visit essexwinterseries.com.

Madison’s Role in the Civil War

: 4 p.m. Hubley Hall, First Congregational Church of Madison, 26 Meeting House Ln. Presented by Charlie Fischer, former Daniel Hand High School history teacher. Sponsored by the Madison Historical Society (MHS). Part of the 2026 Frederick Lee Lectures series. Admission: $5 suggested fee, free to MHS members. For info, contact 203-245-4567 or office@madisonhistory.org.

The Occasional Coffee House: Rees Shad

: 7 p.m. North Madison Congregational Church, 1271 Durham Rd. Features live music, coffee, and a relaxed evening with friends. Tickets: $20, available online or at the door. Space is limited. For info or tickets, call 203-421-3241 or visit northmadisoncc.org/occasional-coffeehouse.

Concert by American Elm (Electric) and The Bargain

:

7 p.m. The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, 300 Main St., Old Saybrook. For info or tickets, call 860-5100453 or visit thekate.org.

MONDAY, FEB. 23

Artist2Artist Enrichment Program: Macro Photography Workshop

: 10 a.m. to noon. Branford Arts and Cultural Alliance (BACA), 1004 Main St. Presented by photographer Robert Thomas. Part of a program of free workshops covering various aspects of professional art practice. For info or to register, contact 203-232-4384 or baca06405@gmail.com.

Staying Strong and Steady: Fall Prevention

: 3 p.m. E.C. Scranton Memorial Library, 801 Boston Post Rd., Guilford. Presented by Dr. A.J. Gagliardi and Dr. Jill Caruso. Learn ways to improve bone density, enhance balance, and reduce fall risk. Free. Registration required. For info or to register, visit scrantonlibrary.org.

Author Event: Deborah Goodrich Royce in Conversation with Luanne Rice

: 6:30 p.m. RJ Julia Booksellers, 768 Boston Post Rd., Madison. Book: . For info or to register (required), call 203-245-3959 or visit rjjulia.com.

Best Boy: A Novel

TUESDAY, FEB. 24

Rep. Renee Lamark Muir:

1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Deep River Ambulance Barn, 284 West Elm St., Deep River. Features a question-and-answer session with Renee Lamark Muir on her role and responsibilities as Deep River’s state representative. Sponsored by the Deep River 60 Club. For info, call 860-767-2302.

Smithson’s Gamble: The Incredible History Behind the World’s Largest Museum with Smithsonian Curator Emeritus Tom Crouch

: 2 p.m. Online event. Book:

Smithson's Gamble: The Smithsonian Institution in American Life, 1836–1906

. Hosted by the North Branford Libraries through a partnership with the Library Speakers Consortium. For info or to register (required), visit libraryc.org/nbranfordlibraries.

American Girl Doll Club

: 6 to 6:45 p.m. Killingworth Library, 301 Rte. 81. For grades 1 to 4. This session focuses on Ivy Ling. Participants should bring a doll (it does not have to be an American Girl doll) and join in story time, activities, and a craft. For info or to register, call 860-663-2000 or visit killingworthlibrary.org.

Getting Your Estate Plan Right: How to Create the Best Plan for You Pickin’ Party

: 6 to 7 p.m. Via Zoom or Google Meet. Cost: $20. Sponsored by Shoreline Adult Education. For info or to register (required), call 203-488-5693 or visit shorelineadulted.org.

: 6 to 8 p.m. Nightingale’s Acoustic Cafe, 68 Lyme St., Old Lyme. Features a performance by blues musician Ramblin’ Dan Stevens. Tickets: $5 at the door. For info, call 860-434-1961 or visit danstevens.net or musicnowfoundation.org/events.

Evening Pick Your Project

: 6 to 8:30 p.m. RiverFire Glass Studio at SoMA, 500 Main St., Deep River. Features a beginner to advanced beginner class depending on what the participant wants to make. Closed-toe shoes, long pants, and safety glasses are required. Bring an N95 facemask in case glass powder is involved in the class. No prior experience required. Cost: $64. Service fees apply. Some beginner projects may require additional fee paid in cash, check, or Venmo on the day of class. For info or to register, call 860-864-5004 or visit riverfireglass.com.

Popcorn and PJs: Virtual Family Story Time

Pout-Pout Fish Goes to the Dentist The Pout-Pout Fish and the Can’t-Sleep Blues,

: 7 p.m. Online event. Features author Deborah Diesen reading and discussing her creative process, answering questions, and leading a brief drawing activity. Cost: $10 for the link to the live event; $30 for the full package, which includes the link, a signed copy of the book, popcorn, crayons, sketch pad, and additional materials shipped to the provided address. Presented by Read to Grow in Branford. For info or to register, call 203488-6800 or visit readtogrow.org.

Guilford Job Network Meet

Music and Poetry Mark International Women’s Day

The Congregation Beth Shalom Rodfe Zedek is hosting an afternoon of music and poetry for healing and hope from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 8, coinciding with International Women’s Day.

The event features Grammy Awardwinning flutist Rhonda Larson, whose multilayered performances have earned international praise, and poet Jude Rittenhouse, whose poems have been awarded the Joy Harjo Poetry Prize, Margaret Gibson Award, and the Tiferet Poetry Prize.

After winning first prize in the National Flute Association Young Artists Competition at the age of 22, Larson was invited to join the Paul Winter Consort—and thus began a global journey which led six years later to winning a Grammy Award. Her performances have been described as transformative as she “wields her instruments like a blow torch.”

A Montana native, Larson has charmed audiences across the country and abroad. She plays a variety of flutes from around the world including ones made of glass. She has perfected the unusual technique of producing vocal sounds while playing the flute using the voice as melody and flute as harmony. With home base now in Killingworth, she has become a mentor for the next generation of flutists while keeping a full performance schedule.

Rittenhouse has spent decades in the fields of trauma recovery and domestic violence, using writing with her clients as a source of empowerment. She is a poet, short story and nonfiction writer, teacher, speaker, counselor, mental health professional, and lifelong activist.

Continued from page 26

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 25

Let's Make Bagels!

: 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Branford High School, 185 E. Main St. Cost: $30 class fee plus a $30 materials fee (exact change requested). All ingredients provided. Bring an apron, a clean dish towel, and a sponge for cleanup. Each student will take home the six bagels they made and three large almond croissants. Take-home bags will be provided. Sponsored by Shoreline Adult Education. For info or to register (required), call 203-4885693 or visit shorelineadulted.org.

RPG Game Night

: 6 p.m. Acton

Public Library, 60 Old Boston Post Rd., Old Saybrook. Participants can play or plan games like Zombiecide or MTG. Facilitated by librarian Brian Story. Free and open to all. Registration suggested. For info, call 860-395-3184 or visit actonlibrary.org.

An Unfinished Revolution at 250

: 6 p.m.

Concert by Sons of Town Hall

: 7:30 p.m.

Pump Up Your Heart: Nutrition Talk

The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, 300 Main St., Old Saybrook. For info or tickets, call 860-510-0453 or visit thekate.org. : 11 a.m. to noon. Congregational Church in Killingworth, 273 Rte. 81. Presented by Natalie A. Webb, consulting dietitian for Big Y. Covers eating plans for heart health, including tips for those with high blood pressure or atrial fibrillation. Hosted by the Killingworth Women’s Organization (KWO). Free. For info or to register (required), visit facebook.com/kwo06419.

Guilford Newcomers & Neighbors Snow-cial

Tiferet Nimrod International Journal Connecticut River Review Cutthroat The Tiferet Talk Interviews

Nimrod International Journal

Her poems have appeared in , , , and , among others. She was featured in , along with Julia Cameron, Edward Hirsch, Robert Pinsky, and Bernie Siegel (2013). Awards include a writer’s grant from the Vermont Studio Center, second place in the 2023 Margaret Gibson Award, honorable mention in the 2025 Joy Harjo Awards, and finalist for the Pablo Neruda Prize for Poetry by and the Tiferet Poetry Prize. In fluid language, Jude’s poems merge feminine imagery with nature and will be a perfect pairing with Larson’s music, especially on International Women’s Day.

Event Details:

Date: Sunday, March 8

Time: 2 to 4 p.m.

Place: Congregation Beth Shalom

Rodfe Zedek, 55 East Kings Highway, Chester.

Admission: $10 members/ $15 nonmembers

For more information or to pre-register, contact 860-526-8920 or office@cbsrz.org.

New Haven Museum, 114 Whitney Ave. Features a talk by historian and author Michael D. Hattem on the role of the American Revolution in U.S. history. A reception precedes the free event at 5:30 p.m. Part of NH250, a series highlighting local and lesser-known stories connected to the semiquincentennial. For info, call 203-562-4183 or visit newhavenmuseum.org.

Book Art Workshop

: 6 to 8 p.m. Branford

Arts & Cultural Alliance (BACA) Gallery, 1004 Main St., Branford. Participants will transform old books into usable and decorative art pieces. Led by artist Sharon Hart. Cost: $10. For info or to register, contact 203-232-4384 or baca06405@gmail.com.

Your Guide to Menopause: Symptoms, Safety, and Therapy Options

: 6:30 p.m.

Chester Meetinghouse, 4 Liberty St. Presented by Jill McEachern, a board-certified women’s health nurse practitioner. For info or to register (required), contact the Chester Public Library at 860-526-0018 or library@chesterct.org.

7 p.m.

First Congregational Church of Madison, 26 Meetinghouse Ln. Book: . Cost: $33, includes admission for one to the event and one copy of . Sponsored by R.J. Julia Booksellers, 768 Boston Post Rd., Madison. For info or to register (required), call 203245-3959 or visit rjjulia.com.

“Billy

Winter’s Neighbors”

Osprey Die-off: What We Know and What We Need to Learn THURSDAY, FEB. 26

: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Anthony’s Pizza Bar & Grill, 2392 Boston Post Rd., Guilford. Social gathering hosted by Guilford Newcomers & Neighbors, open to members and prospective members. Features cocktails and food available for purchase. Cash bar. For info or to RSVP, visit the event page at evite.com.

: 7 p.m. Deep River Historical Society Carriage House, 245 Main St., Deep River. Presentation by Rhonda Forristall on Billy Winter, a selfemancipated slave who made his home in Deep River, and the contributions of African American families in the town’s history. For info, call 860-541-1247.

: 7 p.m. Webinar. Presented by Osprey researchers Michael Academia from the William & Mary University and Ben Wurst from the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey along with Connecticut Audubon’s Milan Bull and Matt Joyce. Part of the 2026 Young, Gifted, and Wild About Birds series. Hosted by the Connecticut Audubon Society. Cost: $9 for members, $12 for nonmembers. Proceeds benefit the Connecticut Audubon Society conservation programs. For info or to register, visit ctaudubon.org/2026.

Author Event: Anna Quindlen in Conversation with Beatriz Williams: More Than Enough More Than Enough : 7 to 8:30 p.m. Via Zoom. Includes guest speakers. All job seekers welcome. For info or to register and receive the Zoom link, contact Russ Allen at 203-457-0121 or RussAllen2@aolcom.

Continued from page 27

Willoughby Book Talk

When the Cranes Fly South

: 7 to 8 p.m. Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library, 146 Thimble Islands Rd., Stony Creek. Book: by Lisa Ridzén, translated from the Swedish by Alice Menzies. Held in the Keyes Gallery. For info, call 203-488-8702 or visit wwml.org.

by

: 7:30 p.m. The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, 300 Main St., Old Saybrook. For info or tickets, call 860-510-0453 or visit thekate.org.

ONGOING EVENTS

Art Exhibits

Andrews Memorial Town Hall

Madison Center for History and Culture

: Lee’s Academy, 14 Meetinghouse Ln., Madison: For info, call MHS at 203-245-4567 or visit madisonhistory.org.

This Side of Paradise

: Runs through March.

New Haven Museum

: 114 Whitney Ave. For info, call 203-562-4183 or visit newhavenmuseum.org.

Invitation to Engage: 60 Years of Long Wharf Theatre & Beyond

: Runs through February.

Pronounced Ah-Beetz

: Runs through October 2027.

Spectrum Art Gallery

Seaview Bistro at Water's Edge Resort & Spa

: 1525

Boston Post Rd., Westbrook. For info, visit watersedgeresortandspa.com.

Fridays and Saturdays: 9 p.m. to midnight. Various performers.

The Choo Choo Lounge at Saybrook Point Resort & Marina:

2 Bridge St., Old Saybrook. For info, call 860-3952000.

Thursdays and Sundays: 6 to 9 p.m. Live music.

The Highliner III:

139 Essex Rd., Westbrook. For info, call 860-399-5042 or visit thehighliner3.com.

Fridays and Saturdays: 7 to 10 p.m. Live music.

Second and fourth Thursdays: 7 to 10 p.m. Open mic.

Clinton Art Society 2026 Winter Juried Member Artists Show

: 54 E. Main St., Clinton: For info, visit clintonartsocietyct.org/exhibitions. : Runs through April 23.

Branford Arts & Cultural Alliance (BACA) West Gallery

: 360 State St., New Haven: For info, contact 203433-4071 or baca06405@gmail.com, or visit branfordarts.org/events.

Artists in Exhibition: Barbara Fenton, Lisa Hess Hesselgrave, Molly McDonald, Edith Reynolds, and MJ Stevenson

: Runs through March 31.

Art Center

: 411 Church St.: For info, call 203453-5947 or visit guilfordartcenter.org. : Runs through Feb. 28.

Local Color 7: Circular Thinking

Guilford Free Library

: 67 Park St. For info, contact 203535-9442 or EileenClarkArt@gmail.com. : Runs through Feb. 27.

All Mixed Up

Lyman Allyn Art Museum

: 625 Williams St., New London. For info, call 860-443-2545, ext. 2129, or visit lymanallyn.org.

Art in the Holocaust

: Runs through Feb. 15

Lyme Art Association

First Impressions: 34th Annual Associate Artists Show

: 90 Lyme St., Old Lyme: For info, call 860-434-7802 or visit lymeartassociation.org. : Runs through Feb. 20.

Congratulations

: Runs through Feb. 20.

The Artists Garden

: Runs through Feb. 20.

This Land is Your Land

: Runs Feb. 27 through April 10.

Animal Kingdom

Stillness: A Still Life

Abstracted Faces & Figures

: Runs Feb. 27 through April 10. : Runs Feb. 27 through April 10.

: Runs Feb. 27 through April 10.

: Runs Feb. 27 through April 10.

: 61 Main St., Centerbrook. For info, call 860-767-0742 or visit spectrumartgallery.org. Runs through March 14.

Signs of Love:

Golden Threads: Runs March 27 through May 9.

Susan Powell Fine Art

: 679 Boston Post Rd., Madison. For info, call 203-318-0616, email susanpowellfineart@gmail.com, or visit susanpowellfineart.com.

Valentine Gems

: Runs through Feb. 28.

Valentine H. Zahn Community Gallery

: Middlesex Health Shoreline Medical Center, 250 Flat Rock Pl., Westbrook: For info, email galleryonect@gmail.com or visit MiddlesexHealth.org/ZahnGallery.

Visual Dialogues

: Runs through Feb. 27.

Yale University Art Gallery

: 1111 Chapel St., New Haven. For info, call 203-432-0600 or visit artgallery.yale.edu/visit/exhibitions.

American Impressionism

John Coplans

: Runs through June 14. : Runs through June 14.

August Sander’s People of the 20th Century

: Runs Feb. 27 through June 28.

Jes Fan: Unbounded

: Runs Feb. 27 through June 28.

Keeping Alive the Remembrance: Commemorating America's Founding, 1776–1876

: Runs through Oct. 11.

Music

Bill’s Seafood Restaurant:

Rte. 1, Westbrook. For info, call 860-399-7224 or visit BillsSeafood.com.

First and third Wednesdays: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Corinthian Jazz Band.

First and third Fridays: 7 to 9 p.m. Bill’s Seafood All-Star Jazz Band.

Second and fourth Fridays: 6:30 to 9 p.m. The Modeans. Saturdays: 7 to 10 p.m. Various performers. Sundays: 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Various performers.

Edward A. Norton VFW Post 7666:

104 Mill Rd., Guilford. No cover. For info, call 203-214-5874. Mondays: 7 to 8:30 p.m. Big Swing Band with Tuxedo Junction.

Nightingale’s Acoustic Café:

68 Lyme St., Old Lyme. Donation $5 to $10 at the door. For info, email gstevens@musicnowfoundation.org or visit musicnowfoundation.org.

Tuesdays: 6 to 8 p.m. Ramblin’ Dan Stevens.

Last Friday: 7 to 9 p.m. Teen Open Mic.

Sweet Saturday Nights: 7 to 9 p.m. Various performers.

The Tap Room at The Griswold Inn:

36 Main St., Essex. No cover charge. For info, call 860-767-1776 or visit griswoldinn.com.

Fridays: 8:30 p.m. to midnight. Psychedelic ‘60s.

The Shore Line Trolley Museum:

17 River St., East Haven. Cost: $5 suggested donation. For info, call 203467-6927 or visit shorelinetrolley.org.

First Tuesday: 6 to 9 p.m. Bluegrass acoustic and traditional music.

The Wharf:

Madison Beach Hotel, 94 W. Wharf Rd. For info, call 203-350-0014 or visit thewharfmadison.com. Fridays: 8 to 10 p.m. Acoustic Fridays. Various performers.

Groups and Activities

A Journey Through America’s Past:

10:30 a.m. Thursdays. Via Zoom. Sponsored by the Madison Senior Center, 29 Bradley Rd. Free. Registration is required to receive a Zoom link. For info, contact 203-245-5695 or gillespiee@madisonct.org.

Acoustics Club:

6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursdays. E.C. Scranton Memorial Library, 801 Boston Post Rd., Madison. On temporary break for winter. Bring your own acoustic instrument. No registration required. For info, call 203245-7365 or visit scrantonlibrary.org.

Ask-A-Lawyer: A Free Legal Clinic:

5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Second Tuesday. E.C. Scranton Memorial Library, 801 Boston Post Rd., Madison. No registration required. For info, visit scrantonlibrary.org.

6:30 to 7:30 p.m. First Tuesday. James Blackstone Memorial Library, 758 Main St., Branford. For info, call 203-488-1441 or visit blackstonelibrary.org.

Banned Book Club: Bingo

: 7 p.m. Mondays. East Creek Landing, 390 S. Union St., Guilford. Doors open 5 p.m. Light refreshments. Cost: $15. Hosted by the Knights of Columbus Council 3928. For info, call 203-453-2801.

To submit an event to the Living Calendar, send an email to news@shorepublishing.com. For more events, both local and farther afield, or to enter your event online, visit our website zip06.com. The deadline for submissions is noon, eight days prior to the publication date.

Real Estate Transactions

BRANFORD

: 5 Beachwood

LLC to Paul Matute, $200,000 on Jan. 21

: Todd and Shannon Hamilton to Michele L. Jokl, $365,000 on Jan. 21

:

Thanh C. Pham to John Macdonald, $230,000 on Jan. 23

: Estate of Alice East Stanley and Alice S. Mandel to Cheryl Lipka, $399,000 on Jan. 20

5 Kings Grant Road

: Jillian Mondaca to Michael R. Boller and Elizabeth Allen, $575,000 on Jan. 23

19 Riverside Drive

: Peter R. and Constance M. Gallagher to Michael Andal and Nina Liang, $1,000,000 on Jan. 22

19 West Shore Drive

: Better Buyer LLC to Kevin P. and Maureen Noonan, $320,000 on Jan. 21

EAST HAVEN

560 Bradley Street

: Linda Mcauley to Christopher Bronander and Samantha Anastasio, $342,000 on Jan. 23

223 Coe Avenue

: Estate of Joann South Onofrio and Pamela Katynski to Tule Riv Hmbuyer Earned E, $489,000 on Jan. 20

GUILFORD

LEIGH WHITEMAN

: Joseph R.

Ricigliano to Jose Mendoza and Esperanza Castillo, $320,000 on Jan. 20

: Matthew and Lori Cattaneo to Phoebe and Matthew Miller, $595,000 on Jan. 20

: Daniel M. and Melissa A. Reiner to Staci Fernandez, $370,000 on Jan. 20

: Jeffrey

M. Niro and U South Bank Na to Juan Escalanate, $330,500 on Jan. 23

NORTH BRANFORD

: Amer Intl

Relocation to Kevin Swenson and Caitlin Crowley, $380,000 on Jan. 20

: Frank and Jennifer Gibilisco to Amer Intl Relocation Soln, $380,000 on Jan. 20

: Kimberly Waligroski to Nikolas Spadacenta, $499,900 on Jan. 21

: Leo J. Bombalicki to Lindsay A. Ronshagen, $430,000 on Jan. 23

20 Lakeview Drive Unit 20 163 Monticello Drive Unit 163

: Anthony R. Caramanica and Hannah M. Theriault to Jit B. Gurung, $310,000 on Jan. 23

90 Turtle Bay Drive Unit 90

: Far Mill Riv Re Hldg LLC to Ann C Billings Real Estate Trust and Ann C. Billings, $395,000 on Jan. 21

14 East Zolan Drive

: Robert G.

Grether to Carlos and John Betancourt, $415,000 on Jan. 22

93 Kimberly Avenue

: Alton

Prperties LLC to Christopher and Carlos Tapia, $320,000 on Jan. 20

7 Oak Hill Drive

: Jill and Benjamin Franco to Veronica Melendez and Cierra Alvarado, $412,000 on Jan. 23

: Kenneth J. Pardee to Joseph Lombardo, $419,000 on Jan. 23

: Matthew Ramadanovic to Rajiv C. and Victoria F. Dua, $1,385,000 on Jan. 20

: John L. Tarutis and Paula R. Deveau to Michael A. Dechello, $780,000 on Jan. 21

4 Columbia Road

: Donna L. Haas to Matthew J. Jansen, $140,000 on Jan. 22

16 East Walk

: George and Kimberly Grieco to Gregory and Kristin Webster, $1,160,000 on Jan. 22

: Joseph E. Smith to Linda J. and Robert M. Guilmette, $320,000 on Jan. 20

: Donna Jones to Robin Staplins, $400,000 on Jan. 21

: David W. Frasco to Melina Q. Usher, $941,500 on Jan. 23

: Gerald J. Wilson and Kevin G. Ferrigno to Robert and Megan E. Falcigno, $860,000 on Jan. 20

: Estate of Nancy C. Desnoyers and Diana J. Desnoyers to Matthew Akehurst, $410,000 on Jan. 23

: Bsm

Hsh LLC to Nelsy Badia, $215,000 on Jan. 23

: Estate of Elaine M. Rubino and Frank N. Rubino to Zebcon LLC, $224,500 on Jan. 20

173 Russo Avenue Unit 609 427 Strong Street 16 Vista Drive

: Edgar Patino to Jose F. Torres-Torrens and Kevin Damian, $388,000 on Jan. 23

: Helem J. Datica and Wilson G. Palacios to Stephan Siebel, $460,000 on Jan. 20

: Philip D. and Stephanie M. Johnson to Sarah D. Johnson and Ethan J. Long, $550,000 on Jan. 20

OLD SAYBROOK WESTBROOK

: James Neil to Matthew and Carly Terracezigni, $525,000 on Jan. 20

Property LLC to Chris and Roberta Fernau, $551,000 on Jan. 20

: Maureen J Lage T and Maureen J. Lage to Francis X. Foley, $1,600,000 on Jan. 22

: Stanley J. and Mary P. Griskewicz to Kyle Butler, $775,000 on Jan. 20

: Audrey E.

Cameron to David A. Facini, $343,000 on Jan. 21

: Real estate transactions are published using publicly available records and are matters of public record. Listings are not removed in response to general privacy requests. Removal will only be considered in cases involving a documented and credible personal safety concern. Requests may be submitted to zip06@shore publishing.com