<p>Fairfield, CT - The Gaelic American Club, at 74 Beach Rd, Fairfield, will recognize Irish Famine Commemoration Day on Sunday, May 19 at Noon. The general public is warmly invited to attend the <span style="color: var(--geeks-body-color); font-weight: var(--geeks-body-font-weight);">ceremony then gather for tea, coffee and light fare, fostering a sense of community and togetherness.</span></p><p>In conjunction with global Irish Famine Commemoration Day events, Commemoration, Reflection, and Celebration, the format is as follows:</p><p><strong>Commemoration:</strong>&nbsp;We will say a Famine Prayer&nbsp;recited in Dublin and Perth. We will also&nbsp;recite an Irish Famine poem in Gaelic and English by a Galway Farmer in 1846. The poem will be recited by members of the Irish Language Club. Members of the Fairfield Gaelic Pipe &amp; Drum will also participate.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Reflection:</strong>&nbsp;Shayna, Blàithín, and Keevan Leech will conduct the wreath-laying ceremony, which will be&nbsp;followed by a minute of silence.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Celebration:</strong>&nbsp;As in Canada, Ireland, and Australia, light fare and a presentation will follow the ceremony inside the Gaelic American Club.&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="color: var(--geeks-body-color); font-weight: var(--geeks-body-font-weight);">Fairfield County, CT - Now in its fifth year, The Fairfield County Dance Festival, produced by the Ted Thomas Dance Foundation and East Coast Contemporary Ballet, returns with a series of free dance performances throughout Fairfield County to enable greater access to the arts and arts education.</span></p><p>These free events are sponsored in part by the Connecticut Office of the Arts DECT, New Canaan Community Foundation, Fairfield Museum &amp; Historical Society, Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County, Connecticut Office of Humanities, Museum of Contemporary Art of Westport, Darien Arts Center, Harmony Lodge #67, New Canaan Library, New England Dance Theater and New England Academy of Dance.</p><p>SCHEDULE:</p><p>Milford Green, Milford, CT - - July 16, 2024, 6:30 PM</p><p>Calf Pasture Beach, Norwalk, CT - - July 17, 2024, 6:30 PM. (Rain Date July 18) </p><p>Weed Beach, Darien, CT - - July 23, 2024, 7:00 PM (Rain Date July 24)</p><p>Museum of Contemporary Arts, Westport, CT - - July 25, 2024, 6:30 PM</p><p>New Canaan Library, New Canaan, CT - - July 30, 2024, 6:30 PM</p><p>Fairfield Museum and Historical Center, Fairfield, CT - - July 31, 2024, 6:30 PM (Rain Date Aug 1)</p><p>Middletown Green, Middletown, CT - - Aug 2, 2024, 6:30 PM</p><p>Mill River Park, Stamford, CT - - Aug 7, 2024, 7:00 PM</p><p>The Fest entails a mobile outdoor stage traveling to different communities to conduct a wide variety of community-based outreach programs and performances, including master classes, lecture demonstrations and workshops. Along with guest dance companies, Alison Cook Beatty Dance, Garet &amp; Company, Lydia Johnson Dance Company, Neville Dance Company, Thomas/Ortiz Dance and East Coast Contemporary Ballet will present a series of shows in multiple locations throughout Fairfield County.</p><p>The response to the Fest's 2021 summer engagements was enthusiastic and well attended. The ability for audience members to be social in an open-air environment and enjoying performances was welcomed during that uncertain time. This year organizers will be presenting in six towns and expect to have over 3,000 audience members in attendance.</p><p><br></p>

<p>Norwalk, CT - The&nbsp;<a href="http://www.seaport.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(25, 106, 212);">Norwalk Seaport Association</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://savegreensledge.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(25, 106, 212);">Greens Ledge Light Preservation Society</a>&nbsp;have teamed up to offer a five-hour exclusive cruise that includes an hour-and-a-half stop at both Sheffield Island Lighthouse and the recently opened Greens Ledge Lighthouse on Saturday, June 8, and July 13. The boat will depart the Seaport's new dock at 70 Water Street at 10 a.m. and return at 3 p.m. This tour is open to the public and offers the rare opportunity to visit two architecturally unique lighthouses that have guided ships with welcoming beacons through Norwalk Harbor for hundreds of years. Tickets are available online at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.seaport.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(25, 106, 212);">http://www.seaport.org</a>.</p><p>This fascinating cruise begins as the Seaport's vessel wends its way through Norwalk Harbor passing a necklace of habited and uninhabited islands, to its first stop, Greens Ledge Lighthouse. This recently refurbished Spark Plug Lighthouse sits on a reef named after Pirate Green, who sailed with the infamous Captain Kidd.&nbsp;Local legend has it that Pirate Green was tied in chains to Greens Ledge as a warning to deter the dastardly deeds of marauding buccaneers.&nbsp;</p><p><a href="https://savegreensledge.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(25, 106, 212);">Greens Ledge</a>, on the National Register,&nbsp;is only one of 33 remaining spark plug lighthouses in existence in the United States.&nbsp;Named sparkplug because of their unique shape and water-tight structure made of metal, Greens Ledge construction was completed in 1902, for $60,000 ($2.5 million in 2024 dollars)&nbsp;to help mariners through the rocky shoals at the west entrance of Norwalk Harbor. Today its 90-foot tower remains an active aid to navigation with its automated light and foghorn maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard. This lighthouse, whose Rip Rap was added from the Radio City Music Hall and Rockefeller Center excavation in 1932 is thought to be the inspiration for the legendary “Green Light” in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel,&nbsp;<em><u>The Great Gatsby</u></em>. It was occupied by lightkeepers for 70 years and is owned by a non-profit that restored it for 2.5 million in 2023.</p><p>Visitors on this cruise will be able to tour both the inside of the Lighthouse as well as the outside pad and lower decks. The indoor tour includes the Trombos Research Center, the Pettee Family Gallery, the Bunkroom,&nbsp;Kleeman Keeper Quarters, the Maclean Watch Room, DeChellis Lookout, and the Beacon Room with its automated light. Afterward, passengers can relax at the picnic tables and in Adirondack chairs located on the deck.&nbsp;</p><p>Located at the southern end of the outer harbor,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.seaport.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(25, 106, 212);">Sheffield Island Lighthouse</a>, on the National Register, is the final stop on this maritime excursion. Constructed in&nbsp;the Victorian style in 1868 of limestone masonry,&nbsp;Sheffield is a classic lighthouse replete with a distinctive metal octagonal light tower in the gable that offers views of the Manhattan skyline.&nbsp;</p><p>This lighthouse has a fascinating history of industrious lighthouse keepers before being decommissioned in 1902 by the opening of Greens Ledge. After it closed, the island became a haven for rumrunners during prohibition, a sanctuary for mothers and children during the cholera epidemic, and the location for a country club, before the Norwalk Seaport Association saved it in 1978. Visitors can climb the tower that affords splendid views and tour the many rooms of the lighthouse that are being reinterpreted to the way lightkeepers would have lived here in the 19th century. Afterward, there will be enough time to picnic in the wooden pavilion, walk along the beach, use the telescope, and explore the adjacent Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge, a birding hot spot.</p><p>It is suggested that you pack a picnic lunch and beverages for this excursion in coolers or carry-ons that can fit beneath the seats of the vessel (18-20 inches). It is best to arrive at least 30 minutes before the scheduled departure. If the trip is canceled due to weather conditions, you will be notified by email. For safety reasons, wear closed-toe shoes and pack plenty of sunscreen, and don't forget to bring your sense of fun and adventure to this extraordinary experience.&nbsp;</p>

<p class="ql-align-center"><strong>Norwalk, CT:</strong>&nbsp;Owners/Family members Andres Diaz, Sandro Toro, and Chefs Vladimir Tolentino Collado and Miguel Castillo started 2024 off by introducing their new restaurant and bar,&nbsp;<strong>Costa Vino</strong>, to the coastal community of Norwalk, CT. Located at 36 Westport Avenue in a free-standing building adjacent to Stew Leonard’s, Costa Vino is a spirited restaurant featuring Mediterranean and Caribbean flavors.</p><p>“We are thrilled to open our dream restaurant in the city of Norwalk,” says Andres, whose local restaurant experience includes time spent at SoNo favorite&nbsp;<em>Tablao Wine Bar</em>&nbsp;and newcomer&nbsp;<em>Nômade</em>&nbsp;in Westport. Sandro and I enjoyed our time at these local hot spots, but we always knew a place of our own was on the horizon.”</p><p>Costa Vino boasts a bright, open floor plan wrapped in warm colors, eclectic artwork, and wood furnishings. The restaurant's large storefront window provides a view of a bustling Westport Avenue. The seating capacity is 150, with an additional 15 at the bar and 50 on the patio. A private parking lot allows for convenient access.&nbsp;</p><p>Chefs Vladimir Tolentino Collado and Miguel Castillo, both from Puerto Rico, execute the menu. Appetizers include handmade empanadas (beef, chicken, or bacalao), chorizo in red wine-barbeque sauce, grilled calamari with white beans, and a seasonal ceviche. The restaurant’s extensive land and sea menu features Seafood Linguini brimming with clams, shrimp, scallions, garlic, capers, and tomatoes in a white wine butter sauce, and a Ropa Vieja of shredded beef, olives, and julienne bell peppers and onions served with rice and sweet plantains. Prime steak, market fresh fish, and traditional Paellas and Mofongos are true menu standouts and are based on availability and the season. House-made desserts include a variety of flan flavors and Costa Vino’s popular tres leche cake.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>The beverage program is equally as vibrant as the menu and includes vacation-style cocktails such as rum-based mojitos and caipirinhas, frothy margaritas, and spiked sangria.&nbsp;</p><p>Learn to salsa dance at a Costa Vino-hosted Salsa Night. Follow the restaurant’s social media pages for information on these special nights and more!</p><p>36 Westport Ave, Norwalk, CT 06851</p><p>(203) 956-0011</p><p>7 Days – Lunch and Dinner</p><p><a href="http://www.costavinorestaurant.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134);">www.costavinorestaurant.com</a></p><p><br></p>

<p>The Bruce S. Kershner Gallery in the Fairfield Public Library invites the public to a reception for “Pixelated Perspectives” on Thursday, June 13, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. The show features digital art by&nbsp;Peach Pair, Noah Laurent, Mark Hannon and Gene Moore. The artists will talk about their work at 6 pm. The show can be seen from June 8 to July 27 during library hours.</p><p><strong>Noah Laurent</strong>&nbsp;is a researcher and artist who recently attained his Master's in Humanities from California State University - Northridge. Having been a member of The Black Rock Arts Guild (BRAG) since 2019, Noah has shown in various locations around southern Connecticut, such as The Kershner Gallery, The Burroughs Community Center, and The NEST Arts Factory.&nbsp;</p><p>Noah says he aims to build experiences through his art that draw the viewer into a state of reflection and encourage new dialogue surrounding existential themes of self, technology, and nature.</p><p class="ql-align-justify"><strong>Peach Pair&nbsp;</strong>is an untrained Westport digital artist with degrees in music and&nbsp;psychology. She has&nbsp;lived in Canada, Denmark, Germany, France and England.&nbsp;She works on major international events at the Washington Convention Center, Washington D.C. She is also the founder of a Buddhist foundation associated with a temple in Japan. She says Buddhism and Music are integrated in her work, “informing its lyricism, heart and texture.&nbsp;</p><p class="ql-align-justify">Peach has shown her work in group and solo shows&nbsp;in Italy, New York, Florida, New Jersey, California, Nebraska, and area towns in Connecticut. She has also won awards, Her&nbsp;works are included in collections in the U.S., Japan, Europe, including The American Embassy in Rome, Italy. Her artwork, “Bleeding Hearts” appeared in&nbsp;<em>Universal Signs</em>, a Hollywood feature film.&nbsp;</p><p>Peach says, “An adventurer by nature, upon graduating from University I hitchhiked across Canada... Perhaps it is my sense of adventure that has drawn me to digital art.&nbsp;...I&nbsp;take pleasure in the challenge of creating something organic, expressive, comforting, and painterly out of something wholly inorganic and insentient to achieve a graceful&nbsp;<em>pas de deux</em>&nbsp;between technology and fine art. I begin with a “blank canvas” – not a photograph – and draw with a mouse—not a stylus; often making use of organic substances: tree bark, leaves, shells etc., which I scan to add texture and dimension.&nbsp;My intention is to create “orchid-room friends”- a positive, comforting influence - for the viewer.&nbsp;My artistic endeavor is a necessary expression of my soul. What is within, is made visible without. By using this technology as my medium, I attempt to prove that there is no separation between the hand that creates and the heart that informs and motivates it.”</p><p><strong>Gene Moore</strong>&nbsp;is an artist, musician, and a human rights activist in Danbury<strong>.&nbsp;</strong>He is showing&nbsp;a select collection of works created in the past ten years using&nbsp;&nbsp;pen/pencil, paint and a digital format.&nbsp;</p><p>Gene says, “Besides science fiction, country and cityscapes, I draw inspiration from the world of music particularly from the experimental, psychedelic rock and free jazz movement i.e. Ornette Coleman, Bill Dixon, John Cage etc. Typically I put on music that fits the particular piece I’m working on.”</p><p><strong>Mark Hannon&nbsp;</strong>is the current president of the Arts Alliance in Stratford. His digital art works have been shown in numerous area galleries, as he wishes to share his creations with a wide audience.</p><p>Mark likes the digital medium for its “convenience, cleanliness and control, as well as the ability to undo and correct mistakes with a simple click.” This provides him “an unparalleled freedom to experiment, iterate, and perfect the work” and bring&nbsp;his visions “to life with precision and finesse.”</p>

<p>FAIRFIELD, CT – Senator Tony Hwang Invites the Fairfield County community to participate in a Hurricane and Coastal Resiliency Informational Panel ahead of the Atlantic Hurricane season beginning on June 1, 2024.&nbsp;</p><p>Expert weather forecasters are projecting a significant number of dangerous storms this year, heightening concerns for coastal protections and preparations. The 2024 Atlantic Hurricane season is predicted to bring&nbsp;<span style="color: rgb(43, 43, 43);">24 named storms, 11 of which could become hurricanes and six of which could reach Category 3 or stronger. T​hat is far beyond the 30-year average and significantly above the tally of 20 storms, 7 hurricanes, and 3 Category 3 or stronger hurricanes in 2023.</span></p><p>Moderated by Senator Hwang, panelists will discuss the potential impact of climate change-induced storms on coastal communities, how to better prepare our shoreline neighborhoods and ecosystems against storms, how to protect coastal environments from flooding and erosion, and more. Join us for a robust discussion with experts and community leaders.</p><p><strong>WHO:</strong></p><p>·&nbsp;&nbsp;Senator Tony Hwang (Moderator)</p><p>·&nbsp;&nbsp;Becky Bunnell, Fairfield Flood &amp; Erosion Control Board (Panelist)</p><p>·&nbsp;&nbsp;James O'Donnell, UCONN CIRCA (Panelist)</p><p>·&nbsp;&nbsp;Robert LaFrance, Audubon Connecticut (Panelist)</p><p>·&nbsp;&nbsp;Dr. Gail Robinson, Ash Creek Conservation Association (Panelist)</p><p>·&nbsp;&nbsp;Cindy O'Neill Vitale, Fairfield CERT (Panelist)</p><p>·&nbsp;&nbsp;Mary Hogue, Sustainable Fairfield (Panelist)</p><p>·&nbsp;&nbsp;STUDENTS, Sustainable Youth Fairfield (Panelist)</p><p><strong>WHAT</strong>:&nbsp;</p><p>Hurricane &amp; Coastal Resiliency Informational Panel</p><p><strong>WHEN:&nbsp;</strong></p><p>Wednesday, May 22^nd, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM</p><p><strong>WHERE:&nbsp;</strong></p><p>Roger Sherman Elementary School, 250 Fern Street, Fairfield, CT</p>