Amity Observer
Spotlight event listings

Jun 5, 2008

THIS WEEKEND
Cancer Prevention study — Sign up for this cancer research project, American Cancer Society Cancer Prevention Study-3 (CPS-3), Saturday, 5-9 p.m., Fairfield Ludlowe High School, 785 Unquowa Road, Fairfield, near the high school track. Open to all adults between the ages of 30 and 65 years old who have never been diagnosed with cancer. Information: Christian Meagher, 563-1510.

Sunday, June 8
Memorial dedication — Bethany VFW Post 2448 will dedicate the recently erected War Dog Memorial at the Veteran’s Park, June 8 at 2 p.m. The memorial is next to the Veteran’s Wall of Honor overlooking Hockanum Lake. Former Post Commander Peter Horbick donated the memorial in honor of the canine companions that often saved the lives of an entire company, many times taking a bullet for the men, only to be left behind to an unknown fate when the soldiers shipped out. Horbick has invited Connie Chronister of Pennsylvania as a special guest. Chronister wrote the poem “I Wait by the Gate,” which graces the memorial stone. All residents are welcome and encouraged to attend this once-in-a-lifetime event. Refreshments will be served in the air conditioned Lakeview Lodge immediately after the ceremony.

Pancake breakfast — The Orange Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary will host its 12th annual Pancake Breakfast at the Fire Station, 355 Boston Post Road, Orange, 8 to 11 a.m. Menu includes scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, potato patties and all-you-can-eat pancakes prepared by the firefighters. Also available are assorted pastries, orange juice, milk, coffee and tea. Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for children ages 5-12. Children 5 and under admitted free with paying adult. Save $1 on tickets purchased in advance. Tickets are available at Knight’s Inc., 286 Boston Post Road, Orange or from any auxiliary member. All proceeds benefit the Orange Volunteer Fire Department. For information, call Lynn Knight at 799-2592.

Community open house — The Reverend Robert Edwin Deming, rector of the Church of the Good Shepherd, Orange, recently announed his retirement. An “Open House” for the community is planned for Rev. Deming and his family,  Sunday June 8 immediately following the 10 a.m. Eucharist at the Church.  The parish membership and all members of the wider community are invited to attend.

Tavern Night — The Amity & Woodbridge Historical Society, Inc. will host its annual spring Tavern Night at the 1772 Thomas Darling House, 1907 Litchfield Turnpike,  Woodbridge, Sunday, June 8, 5-8 p.m. Menu includes roast brisket of beef with pan gravy and spiced apple stuffed pork loin cooked on the rotisserie, corn chowder, cod fish cakes and home baked desserts. Woodbridge’s own New England Brewing Company will provide ale and lager beer.  Wine, cider and water also will be available. Jim and Willow Sirch will perform olde tyme music on the flute and fiddle all night long. Hosts Thomas and Abigail Darling, (Don and Dana Menzies) invite the public to attend. Admission for members is $25 per person. Non-members, $30.  This event always sells out and seating is limited. For reservations, call Muffy German at 387-2187.

Benefit concert — Love 146 presents folk singer/songwriter John Gorka at the New England Brewing Company, 7 Selden St., Woodbridge, Sunday, June 8 at 7 p.m. for a benefit concert.  Tickets are $25 and include beer samples.  Love 146 is an organization that works to abolish child sex trafficking and exploitation through prevention and aftercare.  For more information about the concert or to purchase tickets call 203-605-7923 or e-mail benefitlove146@gmail.com.  

Babysitting course — Woodbridge Youth Services is offering a two-day babysitting training class for Woodbridge residents ages 12 through 15, Thursday, June 26, and Friday, June 27. Classes will take place in Room 16 of the Center Building, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Cost is $32 and registration is limited to the first 10 applicants. Students will receive an American Red Cross Babysitter’s Handbook and Certificate of Completion. Call Woodbridge Youth Services at 389-3429 to register.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11
Business Expo — The Orange Economic Development Corporation will host its seventh Annual Orange Business and Community Expo at the old Showcase Cinemas, 100 Marsh Hill Road, Orange,  Wednesday, June 11, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.     The expo accommodates up to 90 booths from local businesses.  Enjoy the food, fun, and networking. Admission is free.

FRIDAY, JUNE 13
Strawberry Festival — First Church of Christ, Woodbridge, will host its annual Strawberry Festival from 6 to 8 p.m. on the green at the church on Meetinghouse Lane. Dinner consists of burgers, including veggie burgers, hot dogs, salad, chips and drinks, followed by homemade strawberry shortcake. The cost of the complete meal is $10; shortcake alone is $5. Proceeds will benefit the church and its programs. Jim and Willow Sirch, members of the Fiddleheads, will entertain with old-time fiddle and banjo.

SATURDAY, JUNE 14
Flag Day — The town of Orange Flag Day ceremony will take place at the High Plains fairgrounds — not the Town Green as it has in past years — Saturday, June 14 at 9:30 a.m. Breakfast refreshments will be served after the ceremony. At the event, organizers will collect get well cards to send to Walter Reid Medical Center. Anyone interested in participating in “Operation Card Drop,” may buy or make cards and bring them to the ceremony. The band Remember September will play patriotic music. The band also will perform July 16 in the Orange Summer Concert Series.

Flag Day Open House — The Bethany Historical Society will host an open house at the Stanley Downs Memorial Building, 512 Amity Road, on Flag Day, June 14, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Photographs, newspaper articles, posters, uniforms and other information about Bethany veterans will be on display.  Admission is free. 

THURSDAY, JUNE 19
Graduation day — The Amity High School graduation ceremony will take place Thursday, June 19, at 4 p.m. If weather permits, the ceremony will be outside on the football field. If the graduation is outside, no tickets are necessary. Seating is first come first serve. If it rains, the ceremony will take place in the gymnasium. Students will be offered two tickets which will provide family members access to the gymnasium. The ceremony will be broadcast throughout the building in the auditorium, lecture hall, cafeteria and classrooms for additional guests.

Monday, June 23
Golf Tournament — The Orange Congregational Church will sponsor its 12th annual golf tournament at Orange Hills Country Club. The 18-hole event begins at 8 a.m. and includes breakfast, lunch, raffle, shirts, and prizes. Carts provided. Cost is $150 per player with half-price rate for high school or college golfers playing in a parent/youth combo. This is a charity event supporting Columbus House, which serves the homeless community. To register, call the church office at 795-9749.

Wednesday, July 23
Veterans honored — Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz will present the Connecticut Veterans War Time Service Medal to Bethany and Woodbridge veterans at the Amity High School auditorium at 3:30 p.m.