Annual Meeting, Community Champions, and Mixed Signals

welcomes people to celebrate their 14th year on Thursday as the organization holds its annual meeting at 5:30 p.m. at . This includes hors d’oeuvres, awards, and a review of accomplishments. As for events happening tonight, Tom Caruso is holding a Gay Wine and Cheese social at 5 p.m. at , where wine and snacks are available for purchase.

Community events are one of the more prominent features this week, starting with ’s . This kicks off at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday at the Weller Center of ; tickets are $50, and proceeds benefit OIC programs. The proposed is kicking off a fundraising effort with a series of speakers at at 7 p.m. on Friday. And , a musical benefit for the , performs at The Commoner at 8:30 p.m. on the same evening. There’s also the fifth annual at from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, featuring a youth talent show and other entertainment. The New London Community Orchestra performs the same day at 2 p.m. at , with a suggested donation of $5 to benefit after-school music programs.

Two art openings are scheduled for the weekend. The first, “Mixed Signals,” debuts at 7 p.m. on Friday at and includes works by four artists. welcomes Casey Spectacular for an art opening from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday.

Aside from the music already listed, you can also catch the Coast Guard Band’s concert featuring the winners of their Young Artist competition; this kicks off at 2 p.m. on Sunday at . The brings in Rita Chiarelli for “Music From The Big House” at 7 p.m. on Tuesday; tickets are $10.

Also happening this week:

• Friends of Fort Trumbull with Sharon Smith, author of Connecticut’s Civil War, 7 p.m. on Thursday at
• opening days, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday at and noon to 4 p.m. on Wednesday at
• discount photography session, 3 p.m. on Sunday at 300 State Street
• Free screening of Hot Coffee with post-film forum, 7 p.m. on Sunday at the Garde Arts Center

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