A huge turnout and some big moments brought Branford’s 375th birthday into focus at Hometown Harmonies, presented by Branford Community Foundation (BCF) on July 19.

The Friday evening gathering at the Owenego Beach and Tennis Club featured local musical talent that’s grown beyond Branford’s borders—including a surprise appearance by American Idol Nick Fradiani—and revealed this year’s BCF Local Legend award, which was given to the current generation of Owenego ownership family members for continuing a tradition started by their aunt, the late Jane Rosenthal, for sharing this iconic waterfront venue to assist community causes and charities.

The award was presented by BCF Executive Director Liza Petra together with Branford First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove. Cosgrove said BCF’s Hometown Harmonies event on July 19 was a highlight in a year that has seen many organizations, events, and programs answering the call to help celebrates Branford’s 375th anniversary during 2019.

“We really wanted this year-long celebration to be a celebration of what makes Branford a great town,” said Cosgrove. “Not only the history, but also what happens in our community, the support everybody shares for one another, and really highlight that throughout the year. I can’t think of a business, a family, a place that better captures the spirit of what makes our town great than the Owenego. So on behalf of the Town of Branford, I just want to thank the Bloomquist family for keeping that alive.”

The award was presented to Bloomquist siblings Jane, Frank, and John and his wife, Pat Bloomquist.

BCF board member and event organizer Colin Sheehan nearly brought the house down when he announced the night’s special musical surprise guest would be none other than Nick Fradiani. The 2015 American Idol has roots in Branford that include attending the former St. Mary’s Catholic School, which is where he first meet Sheehan when the two were elementary students. Fradiani sang and autographed a guitar that was later auctioned off among many top-level items to help raise money to support the work of non-profit BCF.

Sheehan and Hometown Harmonies’s musical director Mike Martone also brought in a host of talented performers from recent productions of Branford High School Performing Arts, Shoreline Theatre Company, and Tabor Arts Branford as well as featured singers Matthew Cimino, Ava Cosgrove, Ryan Bloomquist, and Greg Nobile.

Nobile and Bloomquist, who have gone on successful careers in theatrical production and singing, respectively, have given performances at the Owenego since childhood. The friends started out putting on small shows under the gazebo at the age of six and went on to found the Lemonade Gang, which produced annual entertainment shows at the Owenego for more than a dozen years and raised tens of thousands in funds supporting research of the Myelin Project and childhood cancers.

“What’s so amazing about this place and about this town is so many years later the spirit of what happened here has not changed,” said Nobile.

Some 2,000 community members registered in advance with a “pay what you can” contribution to share in Hometown Harmonies on July 19. Proceeds from the event will go toward assisting non-profit BCF with its mission of supporting Branford-based community causes, programs, and organizations through grants. Since 1980, contributions to BCF endowment funds have allowed BCF to invest more than $1 million in the community. Most recently, BCF awarded $45,000 in competitive grants to organizations serving Branford after receiving and reviewing a record number of grant requests, up 20 percent from 2018.

Cosgrove echoed Petra’s sentiment that the foundation is committed to the permanence and success of the Branford community with the continued support of many and thanked BCF for its contributions to the town and its residents.

“It’s through everybody here tonight, all those that contribute throughout the year, those who serve on the board of directors and as ambassadors, and really understanding the needs of community and doing the outreach,” said Cosgrove, adding, “The Town of Branford and the entire Branford community thanks you.”