Easton-Redding-Weston Buzz
2 Fires in Bethel Require Mutual Aid From Redding and Weston, Forcing One School Closure on Monday
BETHEL, CT — Bethel and area fire crews had a busy Sunday battling not one, but two blazes this afternoon, one at Clarke Business Park and the other at Bethel Middle School. No injuries have been reported thus far, according to the Bethel Fire Marshal who posted the following message on their Facebook page:
FD operating at a fire in Clarke Park. We are monitoring the smoke and runoff with DEEP for hazards. No hazardous issues at this time. If the smoke is in your area you can close windows in your home. We will update as needed.
The fire departments were also called according to a report on the school district’s Facebook page. The middle school will be closed on Monday, the district stated in their letter to parents:
PLEASE READ IMPORTANT MESSAGE BELOW:
Dear Parents/Guardians, & Staff,
At approximately 1 PM this afternoon there was a fire in an isolated area within the building at Bethel Middle School. The fire department responded promptly and the fire was extinguished. Clean up operations will begin soon but we are in the process of evaluating the impact of the fire on the electrical panels. Therefore, Bethel Middle School and ONLY Bethel Middle School will not be in session tomorrow, Monday, May 20, 2019. As we have more information, we will be in contact with you.
Mutual aid was called in from Danbury, Brookfield, Weston, Trumbull, Shelton, Roxbury, Redding and Monroe, the News-Times reported.
This is a developing news story. CT Buzz News will update as more information becomes available.
Photo via Google Maps
Weston High School’s Theater Club, “Company,” Hosts 4th Annual “Broadway Bound” at Emmanuel Church
By Aline Weiller
January 15, 2019 (Weston, CONN.) — Since the 1980s, Weston High School’s theater club, “Company” has wowed audiences with both classic and contemporary shows, dramas and musicals. Emmanuel Church in Weston will host its fourth, annual “Broadway Bound: A Tribute to WHS Company.”
This year’s edition will feature the cast from Company’s spring musical, The Addams Family, preceded by a short program by the Faculty of Weston Music Center. The event will take place on Sunday, February 24 in the Emmanuel Church parish hall, 285 Lyons Plain Rd., Weston, from 4:00 – 5:30 pm. It’s a family-friendly outing with door prizes and a bake sale. Admission is free and the community at large is invited to attend. Donations are welcome.
The Faculty of Weston Music Center will kick off the afternoon with performances by Allen and Genevieve Brings, Adam Grabois, Margarita Nuller, Steve Lewis, and Wei Tan. Allen Brings, Professor Emeritus at Queens College, is both a composer and pianist, and the Vice President of Connecticut Composers, Inc. Genevieve Chinn Brings is also a pianist, who debuted at age 8 with Leopold Stokowski and the NBC Symphony; she has been cited as an Outstanding Connecticut Woman of the Year. Adam Grabois is the cellist of the New York Chamber Soloists and both teaches and performs at Kinhaven Music School. Margarita Nuller is a pianist and graduate of St. Petersburg Conservatory, Russia. She has performed extensively as a soloist and chamber musician in the New York area and maintains a private studio in Fairfield, CT. Steve Lewis is a Carnegie Melon graduate who also studied piano and conducting at Conservatoire Americaine in France. He taught keyboard and electronic music at West Rocks Middle School in Norwalk for 37 years and has been Emmanuel’s Director of Music since 1978. Wei Tan began her violin studies at age three in Shanghai, and holds Bachelors and Masters degrees in Music from the Manhattan School of Music. She is an award-winner, co-founder, and Director of the New York International Artists Association.
The group’s selections for “Broadway Bound” include Five Waltzes by Brahms, Minstrel’s Song by Glazunov, songs by George Gershwin, and Cello Sonata in C major by Prokofiev.
WHS Company will perform scenes from the musical comedy, The Addams Family. The play incorporates music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa, based on the book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice. The characters created by Charles Addams represent an American family with an affinity for all things dark.
WHS Company is a student-run theater organization founded in 1984, and is the high school’s largest club. Their spring show is directed by Liz Morris and co-produced by Beth Lubliner, Patricia Perez Goodrich, and Paul A. Levin.Company will give attendees a glimpse of their full length play, which takes place March 28-31 (all shows at 7:30 pm, except the 3:00 pm Sunday matinee). Tickets will go on sale shortly ($15 adults; $10 students/seniors) via www.whscompany.com or can be purchased at the door.
Redding to Kick Off 2 Outdoor Summer Concert Series
REDDING, CT — The Town of Redding is gearing up for two summer-long outdoor concert series at Topstone Park and the Redding Town Center gazebo.
The Town Green series kicks off on Sunday, June 17 with Yipee Coyote. The Topstone Park series starts on Monday, June 18 with Mexican Night.
Topstone Park Schedule
Monday, June 18, 7:00 p.m. – Topstone
- Mexican Night by Rancho Alegre – $12 in advance or $15 at the park
Thursday, July 5, 7:00 p.m. – Topstone
- Brooks Williams, $10 in advance; $12 at the park
Friday, July 13, 7:00 p.m. – Topstone
- Gallows Hill Horns, Brass Sextet, free admission
Friday, July 26, 7:00 p.m. – Topstone
- Music Shed Youth Night , $4 in advance; $8 at the door, pizza served
Thursday, August 9, 7:00 p.m. – Topstone
- Open Road, free admission
Wednesday, August 22, 7:00 p.m. – Topstone
- *Tentative, Yale A-Cappella: The Society of Orpheus and Bacchus, $10 in advance, $12 at the park
Concert on the Green Schedule
| 6/17 | Yippee Coyote | Rock ‘n Roots Band |
| 6/24 | Bone Dry | Jam Band with a Groove |
| 7/1 | Brian Q. Torff & New Duke | A special concert in memory of Sally White |
| 7/8 | Tracy DeLucia | Adult Contemporary Country |
| 7/15 | River of Dreams | Billy Joel Tribute |
| 7/22 | Peter Calo | Heroes gone but not forgotten |
| 7/29 | Silver Steel Band | Steel Drum Band |
| 8/5 | Fab Forward | Solo Beatle Tribute |
| 8/12 | The Currys | Americana Trio |
| 8/19 | The Mighty Ploughboy | Celtic Rock |
| 8/26 | Sony Carroll Orchestra | Big Band |
To purchase tickets for Topstone Park concerts, call (203) 938-5036, Ext.3. If there is inclement weather, call to find out if the concert will be held indoors.
Photo via Flickr, credit: Diogo A. Figueira
Redding DIY Pizza-Making Company Brings Families Together for Make-Your-Own Dinner
APR 20
REDDING, CT — After making and tasting thousands of different types and styles of pizza, a husband and wife duo launched their Ridgefield-based DIY pizza-making company called PIY, Pizza It Yourself, to the delight of families across Fairfield County. Ed Winstanley, from Westchester County, and his wife Grace Winstanley, from the Victoria, British Columbia, originally met at IBM and started a staffing business based in New York City 10 years ago.
“We ate copious amounts pizza while living in NYC before moving to Ridgefield,” Grace said. “We’re obsessed with pizza but with a big family and staffing business, we knew it wasn’t realistic to open a restaurant. Hello Fresh and Blue Apron appeared on the scene but we didn’t see anyone addressing our favorite meal so we started packing up dough, cheeses, and sauce for our neighbors to try out. We loved that the credit was given to the chef at home— neighborhood kids saying that their Mom’s pizza is ‘the best.” Families were enjoying the experience together and wanting more pizza!”
The couple moved to Ridgefield in 2013 after looking for a “family-friendly” town in Fairfield or Westchester County.
“When we first drove through Ridgefield and met some of the locals, it was instant, we fell in love and knew we’d found our new hometown,” Grace said.
Ed who used to work in IT and currently owns a staffing business has prior experience working at a pizzeria with his brother who had a pizzeria in Vermont. Eventually, the brothers moved closer to home and Will took over Il Sorriso in Irvington, New York. Ed experimented making pizza at home until he perfected the recipes and techniques.
“My brother and I talked about pizza recipes on a regular basis and when he came over for lunch one day, he was blown away that I had made a perfect pizza in a regular kitchen oven. It was that moment we knew pizza at home could be very special,” Ed shared.
The couple said what makes their pizza so special is not only the incredibly fresh, clean and delicious dough and ingredients but the experience of making artisanal pizza at home with family and friends.
“We love bringing people together over a delicious, easy to prepare a meal. Families are busy and we’re hoping to bring back a better version of Pizza Friday sans shopping or prep work. Recent studies show the benefit of families eating together, from improved relationships to lower symptoms of depression and drug use. We hope to make a difference by strengthening the family bond, the fabric of our society,” Grace stated.
In addition to bringing family and friends together for a delicious, healthy meal, PIY also does all they can to support the local community by doing fundraisers for organizations and nonprofits.
Grace Winstanley said that the couple loves hearing about their customers’ passion for pizza night. “We enjoy hearing about their new pizza traditions— how they look forward to pizza night and how dinner is prepared with and by their kids. We have 10-year-olds who love making pizza for the family and now the parents can ask, ‘What’s for dinner?'”
PIY currently delivers fresh ingredients to families in Ridgefield, Danbury, Bethel, and Redding. For more information visit www.pizzapiy.com.
Photo by Grace Winstanley
Best Brunch in the Redding Area
REDDING, CT — Eggs Benedict, Spinach Frittatas, Country Farm Pancakes…. is your mouth watering yet? Looking for a great spot to take the family for Easter Brunch or Passover? Here are the top spots in the Redding area, as ranked by Trip Advisor and Yelp users.
Yelp’s Top 3 Redding Area Brunch Spots
- Bailey’s Backyard, 23 Bailey Ave., Ridgefield
- The Spinning Wheel, 109 Blackrock Tpke., Redding
- The Redding Roadhouse, 406 Redding Rd., Redding
Trip Advisor’s Top 3 Redding Area Brunch Spots
- Wire Mill, 12 Old Mill Rd., Redding
- The Spinning Wheel, 109 Blackrock Tpke., Redding
- Black Cat Grille, 58 Redding Rd., Redding
What do you think of their picks? Tell us in the comments.
We wish you a very Happy Passover season and a Happy Easter to you and yours!
Photo Credit: Vegan Feast Catering via Flickr Creative Commons
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