by | Jul 18, 2018 8:57 am | Comments (1)
All photos by Bill O’Brien
The Branford Community Foundation pulled out all the stops last Friday at its first Hometown Harmonies, Celebration of Our Community program at the Owenego Beach and Tennis Club, recognizing Branford community icon Eunice Lasala, who encouraged people to “get involved” and enjoy the experience.
Continue reading ‘Eunice Lasala Honored at Hometown Harmonies’
by | Jul 17, 2018 7:54 am | Comments (1)
File photo
Palluzzi and Heffernan
A proposal to extend Melrose Avenue would solve longtime parking woes and safety access at Sliney Ballfields. The plan would also address emergency access at the proposed Parkside Village affordable housing complex.
by | Jul 15, 2018 5:19 pm | Comments (2)
Marcia Chambers, a barrier-breaking New York Times reporter who combined keen instinct with deep intellect and who went on to found and edit the online Branford Eagle, died Friday night at Smilow Cancer Hospital.
by | Jul 13, 2018 8:15 am | Comments (0)
It’s a beautiful evening to honor Branford’s volunteer extraordinaire, Eunice Lasala. Hometown Harmonies, which includes musical selections from local groups, begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Owenego. Everyone is invited. Branford is brimming with center-centric activities with StoryWalk on Main and the weekly jazz concert on the green. Read on… there’s much more ahead.
by | Jul 12, 2018 7:51 am | Comments (0)
Bill O’Brien photo
After a rainout last week, the 10th annual Branford Jazz Series opened this past Thursday with the grooving hard bop style of Rich Goldstein and The Gratitude Ensemble.
Continue reading ‘Jazz Series Opens Up on a Hot Summer Night’
by | Jul 11, 2018 7:40 am | Comments (0)
Sally E. Bahner Photo
First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove, Police Commission chair Jill Marcus, Deputy Police Chief Jonathan Mulhern.
Jonathan R. Mulhern, six days on the job, was sworn in as Branford’s new deputy chief of police by Police Commission chair Jill Marcus at Police Headquarters Monday. The ceremony was attended by police commissioners, town officials, including First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove, police officers, and Mulhern’s family members.
by | Jul 10, 2018 12:13 pm | Comments (0)
Sally E. Bahner Photo
Branford merchants, with the help of the Blackstone Library and Branford Art Center, are taking part in two activities this summer to engage residents and families, and draw them to Main Street and surrounds.
Continue reading ‘Main Street Activities Offer Dog Days Respite’
by | Jul 6, 2018 9:48 am | Comments (0)
Did you survive the heat wave? By the time you read this, we should have a break, and the only things that should be hot are the Corvettes at the 26th annual Corvette Show on Sunday. Lots of other outside activities on offer, too, including the Dudley Farm Farmers’ Market, the Camp Rising Sun Night Out, and Branford Jazz on the green. Music and art are at the forefront. Check out the Branford Art Center and the Branford Arts and Cultural Alliance. Looking ahead, there are two interesting activities to engage residents and merchants. Read on!
by | Jul 5, 2018 7:05 am | Comments (0)
With Permission
From left: Past president Joan Merrick, BLT president Pete Raymond, past president Bill Horne, and Amy Paterson, executive director of the Connecticut Land Conservation Council.
When the Branford Land Trust was founded 50 years ago, members had little idea that the organization would encompass more than 1,000 acres in over 130 parcels and conservation easements on another 400 acres in Branford, nurtured by more than 500 volunteers, member families and businesses.
Members and friends came together last month to celebrate that milestone and dedicate the Red Hills Bog Walk, the latest jewel in the land trust’s crown.
by | Jul 4, 2018 10:19 am | Comments (1)
Bill O’Brien Photo
When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.”
Click here to read the entire Declaration.
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Continue reading ‘Action of Second Continental Congress, July 4, 1776.’
by | Jul 3, 2018 9:30 am | Comments (0)
Branford girls’ lacrosse SCC All Conference members stand with all conference players from Guilford and Hand. The Lady Hornets are (from left) Sabrina Torcellini, LanLe Crotty, Autumn McHenry, Caroline Erickson, Grace Paleski, and Sophie Spencer.
A couple of Branford spring sports teams concluded their seasons on high notes: One, Boys’ Baseball, made it to the Class L state semi finals before being defeated by a heartbreaking 1 – 0 score, and the other, Girls Lacrosse, took it to the mountain for the second straight year, winning 11 – 8 over an arch rival their second consecutive Class M State Championship.
2018 Branford baseball SCC All Conference players kneeling right, with other all conference players, include (from left) Carson Mendoza, Damian Maniscalco, Alphonse Suppa, and D.J. Caron.
The Branford baseball team under coach Steve Malafronte finished the regular season winning 11 of the last 14 games, ending up with a 13 – 7 record and securing a spot in both the SCC and CIAC State Tournament. The Hornets earned an 8 – 5 upset win over eventual Class LL State Champion Cheshire in the SCC Tournament before bowing to rival Hand 6 – 3 in the semis.
Continue reading ‘Spring Sports Season Capped By Title, Honors’
by | Jul 2, 2018 7:35 am | Comments (0)
File Photo
Third Selectman Jack Ahern and Christine Cohen at the Branford Festival.
Democrat Christine Cohen’s campaign for the 12th District state Senate seat is in full swing for the November election, with the news last week that there won’t be a primary challenge in August.
Cohen received the Democratic endorsement to fill the vacancy left by state Sen. Ted Kennedy, but two candidates were collecting signatures to force a primary run-off. However, Westley Jackson and Andy Gottlieb, both Guilford residents, learned last week that neither had collected enough verified signatures to have their names on a primary ballot.
Continue reading ‘Christine Cohen Avoids Primary Challengers for State Senate Seat’
by | Jul 1, 2018 1:25 pm | Comments (2)
Barbie Dubois.Photo
Outside Town Hall
Rallies and marches are continuing across the country. Since the inauguration of Donald Trump, people across the country have rallied for women’s issues, health care, gun control, and now protection of immigrants. Despite the intense heat and humidity over most of the country, people turned out in droves. More than 750 demonstrations were held covering each of the 50 states and Puerto Rico.
Barbie Dubois.Photo
Three Connecticut towns hosted rallies Saturday – in Middletown, where US Rep. Rosa DeLauro spoke; the Two Wrassling Cats, in the small town of East Haddam, which is turning out to be a hotbed of progressive activity; and Deep River Town Hall.
by | Jun 29, 2018 8:38 am | Comments (0)
If this weekend’s heat and humidity are getting to you, cool off with the classic film, “Rebecca,” which is part of Blackstone Library’s Great American Read, shown at Fire Headquarters. Art and music take the stage with an opening of works by Diana Wells at the Willoughby Wallace Library. The much-anticipated opening of the Branford Jazz on the Green series – was, sadly, rained out! Got a cool event? Email sebahner@snet.net by Wednesday noon.
Saturday Cinema: “Rebecca”
Celebrate summer reading by watching movies based on The Great American Read, a list of America’s 100 most loved books. The Blackstone Library will sponsor a series of films based on the books.
This month, the 1940 film, “Rebecca,” directed by Alfred Hitchcock, based on the 1938 book by Daphne DuMaurier, will be shown at Branford Fire Headquarters, 45 N. Main St., Saturday, June 30, 1 to 3 p.m.
by | Jun 28, 2018 7:56 am | Comments (0)
With Permission
Rachel Sexton has been appointed as Branford School District’s next Assistant Superintendent of Schools. She begins work on July 1. Sexton is described in a press release as “an exemplary educational leader with vast experiences in public education. She has worked extensively in urban and suburban school districts to develop viable curricula for students.”
She replaces Dr. Anthony Buono, who will serve as assistant superintendent of schools in Westport beginning July 1.
Continue reading ‘Sexton Appointed as Branford’s Assistant Superintendent’