Branford Town Pulse — June 17, 2026

Branford Weather Almanac

Quiz of the Week

1. How much money did the Branford Rotary's Braffle raise this year for Branford Counseling & Community Services' Basic Needs program?
2. The Branford Festival returns Father's Day weekend to Hammer Field, located at what street address?
3. According to the National Weather Service forecast cited in this week's snapshot, how high was the heat index expected to climb in Branford?

Answers at the bottom of this newsletter.

In This Issue

Shortcuts to:

• Community Events →
• This Week in Branford History →
• Recent Transfers →
• Police Blotter →
• Fire Department This Week →
• Town Government →
• Weekly Town Snapshot →
• Things To Do This Week →
• Town Meetings →
• Weekly Horoscopes →

Community Events

Garden Club Tour Returns June 27, Rain or Shine

The Branford Garden Club's self-guided tour runs Saturday, June 27, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine. Advance adult eTickets are $20 at branfordgardenclub.org; day-of tickets are $25 until 2 p.m. at the Branford Community House, 46 Church St.
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Braffle Sells Out Again, Raises $62,500 for Branford Families

Branford Rotary's Braffle — the Outrageous Restaurant Raffle — sold out all 2,500 tickets in two weeks, raising $62,500 for Branford Counseling & Community Services' Basic Needs program, which helps neighbors with food, rent and utilities. It's the sixth straight sellout, pushing the six-year total past $322,000. First Selectman Josh Brooks drew the winners May 20 at Blackstone Library.
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Big Y Food Drive Runs Through June

Big Y is collecting food donations in Branford through June. Drop-off details and the benefiting pantry weren't in the announcement — look for collection bins and signage at the store.
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Animal Awareness Day Returns to Guilford Fairgrounds Oct. 4

The Branford Compassion Club's Animal Awareness Day returns Sunday, Oct. 4, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Guilford Fairgrounds. Sponsors, vendors, and rescue groups are being recruited now — contact the Compassion Club for forms.
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Branford Festival Returns to Hammer Field for Father's Day Weekend

The Branford Festival returns to Hammer Field (46 Church Street) Father's Day weekend, Friday, June 19 through Sunday, June 21. Live music, food vendors, and kids' activities all weekend, plus the Artisan Marketplace (Sat–Sun, 8 a.m.–3 p.m.) and the Car Show (Sun, 8 a.m.–2 p.m.). Full schedule at branfordfestival.com.
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This Week in Branford History

The Branford Meeting That Helped Found Yale — 1701

In 1701, ten Congregational ministers gathered at the Branford parsonage of the Rev. Samuel Russell and, according to long-standing tradition, each placed books on a table with the words, 'I give these books for the founding of a College in this Colony.' That donation became the seed of the library of the Collegiate School, which was later renamed Yale College. A small monument near the Branford Green marks the town's quiet but consequential role in Yale's origin story.

Source: Branford Historical Society; Jacobus, 'History of the First Church of Branford'; Yale University historical records

Recent Transfers

23 properties changed hands in April 13–May 21 — 19 houses and 4 condominiums, including 2 purchases by investment companies, per deeds recorded with the Town Clerk. Median sale price: $390,000.

→ Subscribers: see every sale — address, price, previous price, seller, and buyer

Police Blotter

Branford Police logged 19 adult arrests this week — 8 of Branford residents and 11 from out of town.

• DUI — 1 arrest
• Motor vehicle — 7 arrests
• Criminal — 7 arrests
• Other — 4 arrests

From the Branford Police Department adult arrest log. An arrest is not a conviction.

→ Subscribers: read the complete arrest log

Fire Department This Week

Branford Fire Department responded to 164 incidents during June 8–June 14, 2026, including 117 medical calls.

• Hazardous Situation — 8 calls (4.9%)
• Medical — 117 calls (71.3%)
• Public Service — 18 calls (11.0%)
• Rescue — 1 call (0.6%)
• No Emergency — 20 calls (12.2%)

Source: Branford Fire Department.

→ Subscribers: see the full call log

Town Government

Main Street Work Moves to South-Side Sidewalks and Granite Curbing

Crews are building the new south-side sidewalk on Main Street this month, setting granite curbing, asphalt base, and paver surfaces as part of the town's Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Project. A new project webpage and biweekly newsletter tell you where to park and what's coming up next.
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Parks Authority Meets at DeLeo Field July 1

The Parks and Open Space Authority meets Tuesday, July 1 at 6 p.m. at DeLeo Field off Laurel Hill Road — a chance to weigh in on how Branford manages its parks and protected land.

Weekly Town Snapshot

6 Stories Covered, 19 Events Listed, 3 Sources Cited, Community Events Top Category.

Things To Do This Week

This weekend

• Fri, Jun 19, 5:00 PM — Branford Festival — opening night — Hammer Field, 46 Church St
• Sat, Jun 20 — Fireside Chat with Shannon White — James Blackstone Memorial Library, Branford
• Sat, Jun 20 — Pre-Demolition Sale - Branford — 38 Island View Ave, Branford
• Sat, Jun 20, 8:00 AM — Branford Festival — full day + Artisan Marketplace — Hammer Field, 46 Church St
• Sun, Jun 21 — Acrisure Becomes Title Sponsor of the Branford Road Race — Hammer Field, Branford
• Sun, Jun 21 — Maker's Market at Lisa's Yoga Studio — Lisa's Yoga Studio, Branford
• Sun, Jun 21, 8:00 AM — Branford Festival — Father's Day: Car Show + Marketplace — Hammer Field, 46 Church St

More this week

• Thu, Jun 18 — Third Thursday Movie Matinee: The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) — James Blackstone Memorial Library, Branford
• Tue, Jun 23 — Tech Help Tuesday — James Blackstone Memorial Library, Branford

Town Meetings: Jun 18–Jun 24, 2026

• Thu, Jun 18, 3:30 PM — Housing Authority — Parkside II Community Room - 3 Block Island Rd Branford CT 06405
• Thu, Jun 18, 3:30 PM — Housing Authority — Parkside II Community Room
• Thu, Jun 18, 5:30 PM — Community Forest Commission — Joe Trapasso Community House - 46 Church Street Branford CT 06405
• Thu, Jun 18, 5:30 PM — Community Forest Commission — Joe Trapasso Community House
• Thu, Jun 18, 7:00 PM — Planning & Zoning Commission (cancelled) — Fire Headquarters - 45 North Main Street Branford CT 06405
• Thu, Jun 18, 7:00 PM — Planning & Zoning Commission — Fire Headquarters
• Mon, Jun 22, 4:30 PM — Veterans Parade Committee — Joe Trapasso Community House
• Mon, Jun 22, 4:30 PM — Veterans Parade Committee — Joe Trapasso Community House - 46 Church Street Branford CT 06405
• Mon, Jun 22, 6:00 PM — Public Building Commission — Fire Headquarters
• Mon, Jun 22, 6:00 PM — Public Building Commission — Fire Headquarters - 45 North Main Street Branford CT 06405
• Tue, Jun 23, 5:00 PM — Coastal Vulnerability ad hoc Working Group — Joe Trapasso Community House
• Tue, Jun 23, 5:00 PM — Coastal Vulnerability ad hoc Working Group — <p>Joe Trapasso Community House</p> - 46 Church Street Branford CT 06405
• Tue, Jun 23, 7:00 PM — Planning & Zoning Commission
• Wed, Jun 24, 7:00 PM — Fireworks Committee — Joe Trapasso Community House
• Wed, Jun 24, 7:00 PM — Fireworks Committee — Joe Trapasso Community House - 46 Church Street Branford CT 06405

Recent Meeting Recaps

• Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter Commission — Tue, Jun 16 View details →
• RTM - Rules & Ordinances Committee — Tue, Jun 16 View details →
• Zoning Board of Appeals — Tue, Jun 16 View details →
• Fair Rent Commission — Mon, Jun 15 View details →
• Inland Wetlands Commission — Thu, Jun 11 View details →
• East Shore District Health Department — Thu, Jun 11 View details →
• Housing Authority — Thu, Jun 11 View details →
• Board of Recreation — Wed, Jun 10: The Board of Recreation unanimously approved Girl Scout Troop 60391's plan to build a Dog Toy Library at Short Beach Dog Park by September 2026… Read our full recap →

Weekly Horoscopes

♈ Aries — Mar 21 - Apr 19

That heaviness you've been carrying around your sense of self…
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♉ Taurus — Apr 20 - May 20

You've been grinding on something material — a job, a…
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♊ Gemini — May 21 - Jun 20

Wrap it up. The Sun spends its final hours in…
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♋ Cancer — Jun 21 - Jul 22

Happy almost-birthday — the Sun crosses into your sign Monday…
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♌ Leo — Jul 23 - Aug 22

Something in your love life or creative world is quietly…
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♍ Virgo — Aug 23 - Sep 22

Your nervous system gets a treat midweek when the Moon…
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♎ Libra — Sep 23 - Oct 22

Ready to stop spinning and choose? The first quarter Moon…
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♏ Scorpio — Oct 23 - Nov 21

Your mind is unusually deep and unusually generous this week…
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♐ Sagittarius — Nov 22 - Dec 21

Slow money beats fast money this week. Mars in Taurus…
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♑ Capricorn — Dec 22 - Jan 19

Partnership is the headline. The Sun finishes Gemini and slips…
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♒ Aquarius — Jan 20 - Feb 18

If you've been feeling scattered, the Moon's pass through Virgo…
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♓ Pisces — Feb 19 - Mar 20

Your imagination is running rich and warm right now, with…
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Quiz Answers

1. $62,500
2. 46 Church Street
3. 101

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