News in Woodbridge & Bethany, CT

Amity performing arts students had the chance to rub shoulders with a bit of Broadway glamor recently, when Erika Henningsen and Kyle Selig – both actors from the original cast of Mean Girls the Musical - visited the school to present a workshop in the school’s Black Box Theater.

Beecher School Recognized for Its Use of TechnologyBeecher Road School recently was named an Apple Distinguished School, a recognition by the Apple company for schools that are making exemplary use of technology in teaching and learning. Only two programs in Connecticut have earned that distinction

The town will mark the upcoming retirement of long-time Executive Assistant Geraldine Shaw with a farewell drop-in reception on Wednesday, December 20, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the town hall. January 2 will be her last day in the office, 48 years, 6 months and two days after she first started

I extend the warmest of wishes to each of you this holiday season. I’m so grateful to all our generous neighbors who supported the Human Services Holiday Basket program providing tangible holiday spirit to our neighbors in need. It truly does take a village.

For those who do not know me, I am honored to be the new Chairperson of the Woodbridge Republican Town Committee (the “WRTC”). As the Chair, I want to emphasize the focus of the WRTC – we care about Woodbridge as a Town, not state or national politics.

The holiday season is a time for coming together, celebrating the accomplishments of the past year, and looking ahead with a spirit of optimism toward the New Year. For our Town, there is much to feel good about 2023 and a genuine sense of excitement for what we can accomplish together in 2024.

Stop by The Center between the hours of 9 am – 4 pm and enjoy a hot cup of coffee or tea at no charge. Sponsorship for the month of December is provided by Woodbridge residents Barry and Hyla Vine. Sponsorship for the month of January is courtesy of an anonymous sponsor.

Many thanks to all the donors, groups, and community support that made the Holiday Basket program such a success. While we cannot name all the donor families here, we offer gratitude to the many loyal donors who stepped up again this year to provide a wealth of giving to Woodbridge families in need

Our lecture series continues! December’s Sustainability Lecture will elaborate on the hot topic of HEAT PUMPS as an alternative to fossil fuel heating! Is this something that might benefit you?

T’ai Chi – Thursday evenings. 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm in room 16 at the Center Building– Adults – ongoing registration.

Amity Middle School students enjoyed the Paint Party instructed by Picasso Parties and hosted by Youth Services. The youth delighted in their masterpieces and had fun relaxing with friends and having delicious snacks.

With Thanksgiving behind us, the feel of winter is in the air. Most trees have dropped their leaves and the landscape looks stark. Before you bring out snow shovels, sleds and skis, this is a good time to take stock of your home landscape with an eye to compatibility with native habitat.

Fall is a wonderful time to enjoy the changing color of the leaves, the quiet and the denizens of the woods, such as deer, turkeys, and other birds. The beauty, serenity and benefits of wild spaces can also be cultivated at home if our landscapes mimic the natural processes of native trees

Congregation B’nai Jacob, along with First Church of Christ, Woodbridge; the Greater New Haven African American Historical Society; the JEDI Taskforce of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven; Shoreline Soul; The Towers of New Haven; Valley Soul; and the Woodbridge DEI Committee are pleased to

The Rev. Susan Murtha is the Interim Minister at FCCW and has made quite an impact. Plan a visit to see what is “happening.” You can also read about her on our website. We are honored to have such an extraordinary individual here with us at First Church!

Through the month of January, BEKI will show a series of weekend Jewish films—both classics and more recent films—on the big cinema screen in the social hall. All of the movies include some comedy, and all are free. Refreshments will be served. Details at beki.org.

Our Winter Reading game for adults has returned after several years’ hiatus. Stop by the library to pick up your Winter Reading bingo sheets—and maybe a mystery book or two! You’ll notice by the front entry that we have wrapped books—a gift to yourself! 

Diana Elizabeth Edelman Kleiner, affectionally “DEEK”, passed away peacefully on November 12 at the age of 76. She was an art historian known worldwide for her expertise on the art and architecture of the ancient Romans.Diana was the Dunham Professor of History of Art and Classics at Yale

Paul Howard DeCoster, of Woodbridge, 89, died November 1, at Yale New Haven Hospital.

I trust that your extended weekend and any celebrated holiday were delightful. We are excited to share that our son, Lloyd, and his 9-year-old and under (9u) Amity Spartans football team won the New England Regional Pop Warner Championship and are headed to Orlando the first week of December