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12/10/2018 01:06 PMIt’s not every year a town can celebrate its 375th birthday, and for Branford, that year will be 2019. On Dec. 10, First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove and members of Branford’s 375th Celebration Committee announced plans to roll out a year’s worth of commemorative events in 2019, kicking off with “First Night Branford” at 6 p.m. on the Town green on Friday, Jan. 4.
Details on First Night Branford’s plans, to include a festive bonfire, s’mores for all, ice sculpting and live performances by Branford’s own “The Spectacles” featuring the Sin Sisters, are being shared right now on Branford 375th social media. Find out more at www.branford375.com or by following Branford375 on Facebook or @Branford375 on Instagram. Through the social media outlets, residents can also order Branford 375th merchandise, which will also be available at major events throughout the year.
“It will be a year-long celebration. The first major kickoff will be Friday, January 4, right here on the town green,” said Cosgrove, during a Dec. 10 press conference outside Town Hall on the Branford green. “As you know, Branford is a community that has a lot of activities throughout the year, including those right here on the town green and throughout the town. [In 2019] they will all be under the branding of the celebration of Branford’s 375th,” Cosgrove said.
The town also plans to leave a lasting legacy commemorating its 375th year; with a project to beautify Tyler’s Green, said Cosgrove. The small green space along Main Street, located just west of the Blackstone Library, falls between Cedar Street and John Street.
“As part of the celebration, we are planning a beautification project at Tyler’s green,” said Cosgrove. “We really are now just beginning the design, and we’ll be unveiling that; and [it] will give an opportunity for the community to be involved in that [and in] donations for the project.”
A Bricks Fundraiser (supporters can purchase a commemorative, inscribed brick) will be connected to the Tyler’s Green beautification project.
As part of Branford’s 375th birthday activities, during the month of February, residents will be encouraged to visit www.branford375.com to submit “Show Your Hometown Love” messages, sharing “... what makes Branford special to you,” said Cosgrove. The messages will be incorporated into a Branford 375th commemorative book being produced by the committee.
While some organizations have already been in contact with the committee to coordinate 375th celebration events that will take place in 2019, the committee is also seeking additional participation from other interested organizations, businesses and individuals, said Cosgrove. All are invited to a planning meeting on Tues. Jan. 15, at 6 p.m. at Branford Fire Headquarters, 45 North Main Street.
“We invite other interested parties, organizations and businesses to come down and discuss the events that they would like to see happen in town as part of the celebration,” said Cosgrove of the meeting.
Interested parties can also get in touch with the committee for official approval, support and publicity assistance with events by sending an email to Branford375@gmail.com
One of the first outreach efforts of the committee was to launch a contest for local artists to design Branford’s 375th logo, which appears on all merchandise and will be connected to all events during the celebratory year. In black silhouette, the logo captures the Greek-Revival facade of Branford Town Hall, together with the historic cupola of the Academy on the Green and iconic steeple of Branford First Congregational Church. It also features Branford’s American flag flying on the green, and even a set of Main Street’s classic cast iron lantern posts, all of which is overshot by fireworks in the sky. It was designed by Shannon Beth Engravalle of {sb} Cre8tive Branding, Design & Marketing (SBCr8tive.com). Campus Customs of Branford is the official merchandise producer/outlet for Branford 375th logo items.
Annual town events which will help celebrate Branford’s 375th birthday include the 35th Annual Branford Festival in June, Branford’s Fireworks Display (June 22), Branford Jazz on the Green Series (Thursdays, June – August), Branford Family Day on the Green (Sept. 15) and the Branford Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting in November. Other events to be tied into the celebration during other months of the year range from Branford Recreation’s Glow in the Dark Easter Egg Hunt (April 6), to Branford Community Foundation’s second annual Hometown Harmonies in July, Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter’s Woofstock in August, BCTV’s Tour de Branford (Sept. 22), Friends of the Blackstone Library Book Sale (Sept. 26) and Branford’s hosting of the Greater New Haven Columbus Day Parade, which is coming to town Sun. Oct. 13. See all of the events planned, to date, at www.branford375.com
Branford 375th committee members are Recreation Dept. Director Alex Palluzzi, Assistant Director Dale Izzo and Program Supervisor Victor Amatori; Recreation Commission chairman Paul Criscuolo, Cosgrove and First Selectman’s office executive administrator Trista Milici, Town of Branford Economic Development/Special Projects’ manager Terry Elton, and Colin Sheehan of Branford Community Foundation (board member), Shoreline Theatre Company (co-founder), Tabor Arts (artistic director) and Colin Sheehan Events.
Sheehan is helping to tie Branford community programs in the arts, including several different theatre productions coming in 2019, to the town’s big birthday celebration. He said the celebration committee is hoping for a surge of connectivity through its social media platforms and other outreach efforts to build a memorable, year-long celebration.
“We hope that people and organizations come out of the woodwork and say, ‘We want to do an event.’ We want many events throughout the year,” said Sheehan.
Branford was first settled in mid-1644, established as part of the New Haven Colony. More information about Branford’s history can be found at www.branford-ct.gov