Weekly roundup features holiday hours for Thanksgiving, new exhibit at American Clock & Watch Museum and Billy Joel tribute band at Rockwell Theater at BAIMS

Posted By: Staff November 15, 2023

City closures for Thanksgiving holiday announced

City hall and the Bristol Transfer Station will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 23, in observance of Thanksgiving, it was announced on the Public Works website. There will be no curbside collections (rubbish, recycle, yard waste) that day. Thursday routes will be completed Friday, Nov. 24, and Friday routes will be completed Saturday, Nov. 25.

City Hall will also be closed on Friday, Nov. 24, the day after Thanksgiving. 

The Transfer Station will be open and operating under regular hours Friday, Nov. 24, from 7:15 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 25, from 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

‘Mantels for the Season’ opens Friday at American Clock & Watch Museum

This year’s “Mantels for the Season,” an annual exhibit that this year focuses on Bristol’s new Cultural District, opens at the American Clock & Watch Museum Friday, Nov. 17.

Mantels and trees in the museum’s eight galleries will be decorated by businesses and organizations associated with the district, which includes historic Federal Hill and select downtown sections of the city.

The annual event, now in its sixth year, has become very popular, said the museum’s executive director Patti Philippon. She added that the event is fun for the staff since if provides them an opportunity to work with members of the community and allows the museum to display the clocks in unique ways.

The event is sponsored by Bristol Health and Coppermine Advisors, LLC. “Mantels for the Season” is included in the price of admission.

The museum is open Wednesday-Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve). “Mantels for the Season” runs through Dec. 30.

Billy Joel tribute band to perform Saturday at Rockwell Theater

“Scenes — A Billy Joel Experience,” with lead vocalist and pianist Ben Eramo, will be the next featured concert at the Rockwell Theater at the Bristol Arts and Innovation Magnet School on Saturday evening, Nov. 18, at 7 p.m.

The celebrated tribute band will be the third show in the Downtown Live series that was unveiled earlier this year. While the band have been touring around New England and beyond for a decade, this will be their first time playing in Bristol.

“I went to take a tour of the theater and it’s beautiful,” Eramo said. “We’re looking forward to playing there for sure.”

Scenes – A Billy Joel Experience pianist and lead vocalist Ben Eramo.

The five-piece band bring authentic recreations of Billy Joel favorites from ballads like “Broadway,” to rock anthems like “Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song).” Eramo began playing through the Billy Joel catalog in fourth grade when his piano teacher Bob gave him music for “My Life.”

Formerly known as Cold Spring Harbor, the Massachusetts-based-band celebrates the music of Billy Joel through powerfully distinctive vocals and intricate piano arrangements. Eramo said that the band pride themselves on bringing high quality, authentic performances of Billy Joel’s music at a low cost. 

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit https://bristolct.myrec.com

Interfaith coalition readies for Thanksgiving with poem and annual service

The Bristol Interfaith Coalition has two events leading up to Thanksgiving, the first benefiting rescue animals and a second, this year’s Annual Bristol Interfaith Thanksgiving Service.

The first is the offering of a Thanksgiving poem, by local holy man, Nighthawk Flying, available with a donation from Good Shepherd Episcopal Church on Stafford Avenue. Copies of the poem, printed and formatted in Bristol, are placed in an acid-free cover with backing board.

Proceeds from the donations for the poem, offering thanks to the Creator for the blessings of creation, will benefit horses and rescue animals under the care of Nighthawk Flying.

The poems may be picked up before or after 10 a.m. services at Good Shepherd or by emailing linkhullar@gmail.com.

In addition, the annual Bristol Interfaith Thanksgiving Service will be held at St. Joseph Church, Queen Street, as well as livestreamed on the Bristol Interfaith Coalition Facebook page (click here), on Wednesday, Nov. 22 at 7:30 p.m.

A collection will be taken for Prudence Crandall Center, a leader in reducing the devastating impacts of domestic violence in the lives of survivors, their children, and our communities.

For more information, check the coalition’s Facebook page or email BristolInterfaith@gmail.com.

Connecticut Energy Assistance Program accepting applications

The Connecticut Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) is now accepting applications through May 31, 2024. CEAP helps Connecticut residents afford to heat their homes. Applications for CEAP typically take 30-45 minutes. Basic benefits towards heating bills range between $180 and $530. Benefits are usually paid directly to the utility company or fuel supplier. Households that heat with deliverable fuels like oil or propane may be eligible for additional free tank fills.

Connecticut residents that meet the following may be eligible: already receive food stamps (SNAP), SSI, TANF or other benefits from the Department of Social Services and have an annual household income falls at or below 60 percent of the state’s median income.

In Bristol, CEAP applications are available at HRA, 55 South St., (860) 356-2000. Email: energyapp@hranbct.org.

Fall leaf bag collection runs through Dec. 1

Fall Leaf Bag Collection will run through Friday, Dec. 1., Public Works announced earlier this week.

The release asks residents to bring leaf bags curbside as soon as they are filled and to leave them curbside until collected. Leaf bag collection is available to all city residences eligible for curbside rubbish and recycling services.

Leaves are only collected in brown, recyclable, paper leaf bags that are available at most home and garden stores. There is no maximum limit to leaf bag collection at a residence.

Leaf bags containing dirt, sand, rocks, sod, or materials other than leaves will not be collected.

Leaf bags must be placed curbside and not within the residence’s property for proper collection. Loose leaf piles will not be collected.

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