COMMUNITY NEWS
Chess club
The Fairfield Chess Club meets Wednesdays from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Bigelow Senior Center, 100 Mona Terrace. You do not have to be a senior to play. Usually eight to 12 people attend. For information, call the center at 203-256-3166 or Frank DeStefano at 203333-6857.
Support group
A bipolar, anxiety and depression support group meets Thursdays from 6 to 8 p.m. at St. Vincent’s Behavioral Health, 47 Longs Lots Road, Westport. Attendees will share in discussions and experience support in a safe and nonjudgmental setting with others who are dealing with and managing their mental illnesses. For information, contact Alan Rosenthal at 860-661-5093 or branforddbsa@gmail.com.
Travel Expo
A free AAA Travel Expo is offered Saturday, Oct. 13, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Baldwin Center, 1000 W. Broad St., Stratford. The expo features more than 20 travel experts to discuss customized vacation and destination packages. There also will be brief presentations on Hawaii, Caribbean and Alaskan cruises, and more. Register at aaa.com/travelshow or call 800-AAA-9192.
Author talk
The Stratford Library, 2203 Main St., continues its “Sunday Afternoon Talks” on Sunday, Oct. 14, at 2 p.m. with “The Signs of Connecticut,” with guest speaker Thomas Fatone. Fatone visited all 169 towns in Connecticut and took pictures of each town’s blue history sign, and will share anecdotes from his travels. For information, call the library at 203385-4162 or visit stratfordlibrary.org.
Kids’ financial workshop
Excel in Finances, a financial skills workshop for children in grades four to six, is offered Tuesday, Oct. 16, at 4 p.m. at the Stratford Library, 2203 Main St. The workshop, led by Laurie Taylor, is a fun introduction to money management. Register at stratfordlibrary.org or call 203-385-4165.
Irish music
The P.V. O’Donnell Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann traditional Irish music session features fiddler Eugene Bender on Thursday, Oct. 18, at 7:45 p.m. at St. Gabriel’s Parish hall, 26 Broadway, Milford. Call 203-876-9973 for information.
Tag sale
The Westport Woman’s Club hosts its annual Clothing Tag Sale Friday and Saturday, Oct. 19 and 20, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and Sunday, Oct. 21, from noon to 3 p.m. at the club, 44 Imperial Ave. The sale features new and gently used women’s, men’s and children’s clothing and accessories. Proceeds support student scholarships and local charities. For information, call the club at 203-227-4240.
Italian Night
The West Haven Italian American Civic Association, 85 Chase Lane, hosts a combined 60th Anniversary and Italian Night dinner dance on Saturday, Oct. 20, at 6:30 p.m. The event features a full dinner menu and open bar, and dance music by Vinny Carr from 8 p.m. to midnight. Tickets are $45. Call Bob or Ellen Marrazzi at 203-933-7740.
Soup and chili
Christ Church Quaker Farms, 470 Quaker Farms Road, Oxford, hosts a homemade Hearty Soup and Chili Dinner on Saturday, Oct. 20, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. The menu includes all the soup and/or chili you can eat, salad, beverages and desserts. Cost is $10 adults, $5 children under 12. Hotdogs and hamburgers will be available for purchase. Eat in or carry out. For information, call 202-8884936.
Historical Society
The Bridgeport Community Historical Society meets Tuesday, Oct. 23, at 6:30 p.m. at the Bridgeport North Branch Library, 3455 Madison Ave. Local architect Emanuel Machado and planning consultant Michael Tyrrell will discuss the history of the former Henry N. Sanborn Branch Library and the efforts to save it from demolition. For information, call Audrey at 203-371-6397.
Halloween Doo Wop
The West Haven ItalianAmerican Civic Association, 85 Chase Lane, hosts a Halloween Doo Wop Dance on Saturday, Oct. 27, from 7 p.m. to midnight. The event features music by Dave the deejay; free beer, wine or soda; and cash bar. BYO snacks. Coffee and dessert at 11 p.m. Tickets are $20. Call Lou at 203-934-3339 or 203-464-1976 or Ben at 203-933-4423 by Oct. 23.
Sip & Savor
The Westport Woman’s Club, 44 Imperial Ave., hosts Sip & Savor 2018, a winetasting fundraiser, on Friday, Oct. 26, from 6 to 8 p.m. The event includes wine tastings, seasonal hors d’oeuvres, live music and prizes. Profits benefit need-based college scholarships and grants to Fairfield County nonprofits. Tickets are $60 and available at westportwomansclub.org.
Pumpkin contest
The Westport Historical Society, 25 Avery Place, hosts a Spooktober Pumpkin Decorating Contest Friday and Saturday, Oct. 26 and 27. Information is available at westporthistory.org. Each carved jack-o’-lantern gains one free individual admission to “Night at the Haunted Historical Society.” Limited to one free entry. The society’s Spooktober celebration is the entire month.
Halloween dinner
The Greenfield Hill Grange, 1873 Hillside Road, Fairfield, hosts a Halloween dinner Saturday, Oct. 27, at 6 p.m. at the grange hall. The dinner features chicken Franchise, rice pilaf, vegetables, tossed salad, vegetable lasagna, ziti with sauce for children, bread, butter and assorted desserts. Costumes are optional. Prize for best costume, and entertainment. Cost is $20 for adults $20, $10 for children, free for children under 6. For reservations, call Jim at 203-2598023 or Steve at 203-3674373.
Art exhibit
The paintings of local artist Joyce Kopac are on display at the Plumb Memorial Library, 65 Wooster St., Shelton, beginning Saturday, Oct. 27, at 2 p.m., when she will be on hand to meet and speak to attendees. Contact her at jkopac76@gmail.com or call the library at 203-9241580 for information.
Compassionate Friends
The Bridgeport Chapter of the Compassionate Friends meets the second Tuesday monthly from 6:45 to 8:45 p.m. at the Sterling House Community Center, 2283 Main St., Stratford. Attendees are asked to bring a canned good or nonperishable food item for the food pantry. The group is a nondenominational support group for parents and grandparents grieving the death of a child. For information, visit tcfbridgeport.org or call 475-8829695.
Reading volunteers
The School Volunteer Association of Bridgeport celebrates the 33rd anniver- sary of Read Aloud Day on Thursday, Oct. 18, from 9 to 10 a.m. Six hundred and fifty volunteers will share their love of reading with every prekindergarten through sixth-grade class in Bridgeport’s Public Schools. Books will be provided, and donated to the classroom libraries after they are read. No prior experience is necessary. To volunteer, call 203-275-1120
Reading program
Literacy Volunteers of Greater Bridgeport offers a free literacy program for parents and their children on Wednesdays through Nov. 21, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the downtown Bridgeport Public Library on Broad Street. For information, call 203-5768355 or 203-338-8146. Dinner is included.
Homeless fundraiser
Pianist Joe Utterback entertains with blues, ballads, Broadway and traditional jazz music from the American Songbook in an Off the Streets fundraiser on Saturday, Oct. 13, at 6:30 p.m. at St. Thomas Church hall, 1719 Post Road, Fairfield. Cabaret-style: BYOB and snacks. Coffee and dessert provided. Cost is $30. Reservations required. For tickets, call Ellen Moore at 203-8809814. Off the Streets is a nonprofit that provides aid toward housing for the homeless.
Open house
Sacred Heart Academy, an independent Catholic college preparatory school for girls in grades nine to 12, hosts an open house for prospective students and their families on Sunday, Oct. 14, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the school, 265 Benham St., Hamden. Seventh- and eighth-graders and their parents are particularly encouraged to attend. For information, call Elaine Lamboley at 203-288-2309, ext. 307, or visit sacredhearthamden.org.
Spaghetti dinner
Fairfield Grace United Methodist Church, 1089 Fairfield Woods Road, hosts an all-you-can-eat spaghetti buffet Saturday, Oct. 13, from 4:45 to 6:45 p.m. The dinner includes two sauces, salads, bread, desserts and beverages. The 100th dinner is free. Cost is $12 adults, $10 seniors, $5 children under 12. Church is handicapped accessible. Call 203-374-6528.
Ribbon-cutting, more
Boys & Girls Village, 528 Wheelers Farms Road, Milford, hosts a ribbon-cutting and Harvest Welcome event Wednesday, Oct. 17, from 2 to 4 p.m. to celebrate the official opening of the new Program Services building. Selfguided tours of the new facility will be offered, and refreshments will be served. For reservations and details, visit bgvillage.org or call Ashley Keller at 203-5569695.
Church Women
Church Women United hosts its Fall Assembly, celebrating CWU for 75 years, on Saturday, Oct. 20, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Unity Hill United Church of Christ, 364 White Plains Road, Trumbull. The theme is “Reaching for Wholeness — in Harmony with God’s People.” Cost is $20, including lunch. For information, call Carole Fanslow at 203-375-1284. Guest speaker is Jeffie Frazier, a retired assistant principal and a Milkens Education Award recipient.
Pasta dinner
The Holy Name Society of the Holy Name of Jesus Church hosts a pasta dinner on Saturday, Oct. 20, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the parish hall, 50 College St., Stratford. The dinner features pasta, meatballs, salad, bread, dessert, coffee, tea and soda. Free-will donations will be accepted. For information, contact Larry Wells at 203395-7073 or lawman56@optonline.net.
Cemetery tour
The Westport Historical Society hosts “Illuminating the Past,” a lantern tour of Willowbrook Cemetery, Main Street, Westport, on Saturday, Oct. 20, from 5 to 6 p.m. Participants will tour the cemetery with a guide and discover notable departed Westport residents. Meet at the cemetery. Online advance registration is $8 for members, $12 for nonmembers. Cost at the event is $10 suggested admission for members, $15 for non-members, $5 for students with ID, free for children 12 and under. Register at westporthistory.org
‘Pipescreams’
The Greater Bridgeport American Guild of Organists presents its 17th annual “Pipescreams” on Sunday, Oct. 21, at 4 p.m. at First Congregational Church, 2301 Main St., Stratford. The event features choirs, organists, a silent movie and guest musicians performing Halloween-themed, Broadway and other beloved music. Costumes are encouraged. Cost is $15 for adults, $5 for students, free for children 11 and under, and are available at the door. Proceeds will benefit the Paul Knox & M. Louise Miller Scholarship Fund. For information, call Carole Fanslow at 203-375-1284.
Low vision group
The Low Vision Support Group meets Monday, Oct. 22, at 10:30 a.m. at the Milford Senior Center, 9 Jepson Drive. For information, call Eileen Torow at 203-8788904.
Square One group
The Friends of the Square One Theatre Co. host a general meeting Tuesday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m. at the Stratford Library, 2203 Main St. Attendees will be treated to a sneak preview of the theater’s first performance, “The God Game,” by Suzanne Bradbeer, which will be presented Nov. 1 to 18 at Stratford Academy. Call Carole Fanslow at 203-375-1284.
Book talk
The Westport Historical Society, 25 Avery Place, hosts a book discussion of “Barracoon” with publisher Tracey Sherrod on Wednesday, Oct. 24, from 6 to 7 p.m. The discussion is part of the society’s “Remembered exhibit: The History of African Americans in Westport.” Online advance registration is $8 for members, $12 for nonmembers; at the door, $10 suggested for members, $15 for nonmembers, $5 for students with ID, free for children 12 and under. Register at westporthistory.org.
Slavic food sale
St. John the Baptist Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Church, 1240 Broadbridge Ave., Stratford, hosts a Slavic food sale on Saturday, Nov. 3, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Pagachi, stuffed cabbage and pierogies must be ordered in advance, beginning Oct. 8 at noon. Call 203375-2564 to order or for information.
Reunion planned
Members of the Warren Harding High School Class of 1948 will celebrate their 70th reunion Saturday, Oct. 20, from noon to 5 p.m. at the Oronoque Country Club in Stratford. For information, call Sarah Vena Masso at 203-378-6637.
‘Tequila Sunrise’
Masuk High School, 1014 Monroe Turnpike, Monroe, presents “Another Tequila Sunrise” on Saturday, Oct. 13. The event includes a silent auction and bake sale. Doors open at 6, with the show at 7:30 p.m. Call 203426-5188 (leave a message) or TicketLeap.com for tickets. Tickets are $35 for adults, $40 at the door; $25 for seniors and students, $30 at the door.
CROP committee
The Greater Bridgeport CROP Hunger Walk Committee meets Monday, Oct. 15, at 7 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 188 Rocky Rest Road, Shelton. Plans will be discussed for the 45th walk in May. For information, call Carole Fanslow at 203-3751284.