Quinnipiac University students by the debris pile in the garden at the Wallingford Senior Center.
Ellie Tessmer /Courtesy of the Wallingford Garden Club
Quinnipiac’s ‘Big Event Day’ at Wallingford Senior Center
WALLINGFORD — Quinnipiac University students visited the Wallingford Senior Center last month for the “Big Event” annual spring cleanup.
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On April 11, 14 QU students cleaned up the center’s Agnes B. Campos Bird and Butterfly Garden.
Before the work began, Roman Mrozinski, former director of the Southwest Conservation District and Connecticut Master Gardeners, prepped the area for the students. Shrubs and ornamental grasses were cut back, cleaned and deposited for Wallingford Public Works to pick up and dispose.
A photo of Meriden retired photographer Ray Gawlak’s dog, Steve, taken in Vermont before the advent of auto-focus lenses.
Courtesy of Ray Gawlak
Library photo exhibit at features local retired photographer
MERIDEN— The Meriden Public Library is hosting a new photography exhibit this month featuring works by local retired photographer Ray Gawlak.
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Art enthusiasts can stop by the library’s main lobby located at 105 Miller St. to check out some of Gawlak’s work spanning over his 50-year career.
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The exhibit will be on display through the end of May.
The library is open on Mondays from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesdays from 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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Gallery 53 to host opening reception for new exhibit
MERIDEN — Gallery 53 will host an opening reception Saturday for its new “Fabrics of America” exhibit featuring textile works by regional contemporary fiber artists from noon to 1:30 p.m.
The exhibit features pieces created with natural or synthetic fibers, such as cotton, wool, silk and yarn, through techniques like quilting, weaving, knitting and embroidery.
The judges of the show are local award-winning quilters and instructors Karen Bergeron and Sharon Lee.
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The exhibit will be on display through May 28.
The gallery is located at 53 Colony St. For more information, visit gallery53.org.
The Wallingford Garden Club will host a floral design presentation called, “Arts and Flowers,” by Trish Manfredi during its meeting on May12, 2026, at 11 a.m. at First Congregational Church.
Courtesy of the Wallingford Garden Club
Wallingford Garden Club May meeting
WALLINGFORD — The Wallingford Garden Club will meet May 12 at 11 a.m. at First Congregational Church, 23 South Main St.
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The meeting will include a floral design presentation, “Arts and Flowers,” led by Trish Manfredi, a lifelong flower garden enthusiast as well as a master flower show judge throughout New England and New York. She is also a member of the Evergreen Country Gardeners of Glastonbury.
During the presentation, Manfredi will interpret a piece of artwork with flowers.
A web Design on pedestal created by Trish Manfredi who will be hosting a presentation called, “Arts and Flowers” during the the Wallingford Garden Club meeting on May 12, 2026.
Courtesy of the Wallingford Garden Club
Attendees can bring their own lunch. Coffee, tea and dessert will be provided.
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The meeting is free and open to the public but a $5 donation is appreciated.
Parking is available off Center Street and beyond in the Town Hall public parking area.
For more information, visit wallingfordgardenclub.com or call 203-269-2653.
Memorial Day decorated boxes, which will be on sale at the Wallingford Garden Club annual plant sale on May 17 at 10 a.m.
Ellie Tessmer and Linda Burr/Courtesy of the Wallingford Garden Club
Wallingford Garden Club hosts annual plant sale
WALLINGFORD — The Wallingford Garden Club will host its annual plant sale May 17 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Wallingford Parks and Recreation Department, 6 Fairfield Boulevard.
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Gardeners of all experience levels will get a chance to purchase different items such as perennials, herbs, shrubs, trees and houseplants.
Newly added are decorative Memorial Day boxes filled with red, white and blue flowers created by club members during a recent workshop.
Attendees will also be able to ask club members and UConn Master Gardeners any gardening questions they have.
For more information, call 203-269-2653.
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Wallingford Garden Club members Kim Dennis, Linda Brr, Donna Joyce and Margaret Kitson.
Ellie Tessmer and Linda Burr/Courtesy of the Wallingford Garden Club
Wallingford Historical Preservation Trust host car show
WALLINGFORD — The Wallingford Historical Preservation Trust will host a car show May 17 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Franklin Johnson Mansion, 1534 South Main St.
A collection of classic cars spanning over the last century will be on display. Attendees can also go on a mansion tour while the building is open.
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The event is free and open to the public.
For more information, visit wallingfordcthistory.org.
Schnitzel dinner at Meriden Turner Halle
MERIDEN — Stanley’s Kitchen Series is back with another schnitzel dinner May 21 at 7 p.m. at the Meriden Turner Society, 800 Old Colony Road.
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The menu features spaetzle and red cabbage for sides.
The cost is $12 per dinner. Reservations in advance are encouraged by May 17.
The Meriden Turner Society, founded in 1866 by German immigrants, is a nonprofit community organization dedicated to preserving German culture.
For more information or to register, email Peter Rist at MeridenTurnerReservations@gmail.com or call 260-341-2542.
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For more information, visit meridenturnersociety.com.
Plainville Community Schools was recognized last month by the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education. From left are Director of Community Relations Lynn Davis, CABE representative Meg Scata, Plainville Board of Education Chairman Foster White and Superintendent Brian Reas.
Courtesy of Lynn Davis
Plainville school district recognized with first-place awards
PLAINVILLE — Plainville Community Schools was recognized last month with several first-place awards for community newsletters, social media presence and website by the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education.
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At the April 20 Plainville Board of Education meeting, CABE representative Meg Scata presented the district with 10 first-place CABE Bonnie B. Carney Awards of Excellence for Educational Communications.
The awards include two in the social media categories, four in the newsletter categories, one in the website categories and three in the special project categories.
The school district also received several honorable mentions.
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