Monroe Restaurant Week starts this Monday, but there is a community kick off event this Sunday at Veracious Brewery, 246 Main St., from noon to 4 p.m.
The event will feature music, food and fun. Visitors can meet representatives from the 22 restaurants who are participating.
The Monroe Economic Development Commission is sponsoring the third annual Monroe Restaurant Week, in which participating restaurants will offer special menu’s from Sunday, Oct. 20, to Sunday, Oct. 27.
Another special event will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. at Victorinox Swiss Army on Thursday, Oct. 24, with a celebrity chef demonstration with food and music.
Panera Bread’s coming
The Noble gas station approved for 205 Monroe Turnpike plans to have Panera Bread as a tenant.
First Selectman Ken Kellogg shared the news at Tuesday’s Town Council meeting. He said the developer will file an application to modify the Planning & Zoning Commission approval to allow a drive-thru and outdoor seating.
In other economic news, the first selectman said town staff is working with Aubuchon Hardware and the property owner at Bart Center on Main Street in its application to expand into another unit.
Aubuchon Hardware is moving into the space vacated by Stepney Hardware, which closed a 64-year-run.
Kellogg also announced a series of ribbon cuttings for new businesses: Natural Pet Outlet, Clocktower Square, Oct. 26, 9:30 a.m.; Lakeside Nutrition, Clocktower Square, Oct. 26, 10:30 a.m.; OrthoFast, 731 Main St., Oct. 29, 4 p.m.; and M&T Bank, 525 Main St., Nov. 6, 5:30 p.m.
Grand Opening at Edith Wheeler Memorial Library
Edith Wheeler Memorial Library invites the public to a ribbon cutting ceremony for the grand opening of its Monroe Lions Club Co-op and Café on Saturday, Nov. 2, from 10 a.m. to noon.
The recently renovated upper level of the building includes a brand-new makerspace as well as a self-serve coffee area with comfortable seating. A $93,000 donation from the Monroe Lions Club to the Friends of the Edith Wheeler Memorial Library was essential to making the upgrade possible.
On Tuesday the Town Council approved a contract with Aramark Refreshment Services for the coffee area.
When a pipe burst in the Teen Space in January of 2018, the library decided to turn the misfortune into an opportunity to update its services. The makerspace contains a host of equipment to encourage creative pursuits, both digital and old school.
Among the newly available equipment is a photo and slide scanner; a Cricut cutting machine; an embroidery machine; a Glowforge laser cutter and a converter that can turn old VHS tapes and DVDs into digital files.
Programs will be offered to give patrons examples of useful projects they can create on the new machines. Equipment will also be available for public use and innovation once people have attended training sessions.
“We’re very excited about the changes we have made,” said Lorna Rhyins, the library director. “We will now be able to give our patrons spaces for meeting, socializing and cooperative learning while still offering the quiet study areas and the stellar service we have always been known for.”
The public is invited to stop by during the opening event to get a glimpse of some of the new equipment in action and to partake of free refreshments while they last in the café area.
Edith Wheeler Memorial Library is located at 733 Monroe Turnpike in Monroe.
Pumpkin Festival this Saturday
Monroe Elementary School’s 41st annual Great Pumpkin Fair is this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The event will feature face painting, pumpkin decorating, raffles, vendors, a bake sale, music and escape rooms. Hungry visitors can munch on slices of pizza and hamburgers and hot dogs off the grill.
Admission is free and the activities start at 50 cents. Just as in previous years, the first 100 families to arrive will receive a bag filled with advertisements from businesses and professionals in the area, including flyers, goodies, free passes, coupons and business cards.
The fair is the PTO’s biggest fundraiser and all of the proceeds go directly back to the children of Monroe Elementary School, supplementing expenses for things not included in the Board of Education budget.
Impersonations of John Lennon, Neil Diamond …
The women of St. Stephen’s Church will present a Concert/Cabaret night featuring Brian LaBlanc impersonating John Lennon, Neil Diamond and Jimmy Buffet on Nov. 9, at 6:30 p.m.
The event will be in the church hall at 6948 Main St., Trumbull. Bring your own refreshments, wine or beer. Dessert and coffee will be served. Tickets are $20 per person. Call Mary at 203-615-2741 or Pat at 203-261-9346 for reservations.
