PAWCATUCK KICKOFF OF MURAL EVENT SLATED FOR THURSDAY

Stonington — The Pawcatuck kickoff for next month’s Bricks and Murals event will be held Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Mia’s Restaurant at 1 W. Broad St. next to the Pawcatuck River bridge.

The bipartisan event is being sponsored by the Board of Selectmen. Business owners, town officials and political leaders have all be invited. A $25 cash donation is suggested. Light fare will be served and a cash bar will be available.

“Our goal is to fill the room Thursday and show Pawcatuck pride in this event,” said First Selectman Rob Simmons.

From Sept. 13 to 17, 100 artists from across the country will converge on downtown Pawcatuck and Westerly to paint 14 large murals, four of which will be in Pawcatuck.

One of the murals will commemorate the annual Thanksgiving Day football game between Stonington and Westerly which has been held since 1911. The mural will be painted on the side of C.C. O’Brien’s on Mechanic Street. Mockups of some of the murals will be on display Thursday night.

While Bricks and Murals events have been held in communities across the country over the past 20 years, this is the first time one has been held in two towns or two states.

More information on the event and opportunities to volunteer and make donations to offset the $160,000 cost is at http:// www.bricksandmurals.org/.