Calendar

Today

AARP MEETING: Middlesex Chapter #3394 AARP will hold their monthly meeting Tuesday May 9 at 1:30 p.m. at the Middletown Senior Center on Durant Street. The guest speaker will be Laura Falt, Director of Community Relations at Water’s Edge, discussing long and short term care. The June luncheon will take place on June 13 and members wishing to attend should sign up and pay at this May meeting. Members are reminded to bring non-perishable food items for the Amazing Grace Food Pantry. LIBRARY FILM: See Dashiell Hammett’s romantic comedy of manners, The Thin Man (1934), starring William Powell and Myrna Loy, May 9, 12 p.m. in the Hubbard Room, Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown. When a wealthy inventor goes missing, his daughter calls in wisecracking detective-turned-socialite Nick Charles to find him. Drop-in, no registration. BOOK DISCUSSION: The Boys in the Boat Multigenerational Book Discussion (A One Book Event), May 9, 6:30-8 p.m. in Meeting Room 3, Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown. Young and old are invited to take part in this discussion focusing on The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown. Copies provided by the Rotary Club of Middletown. For more information, contact Christy Billings, cbillings@russelllibrary.org or call 860-347-2520. RUSSELL READERS: Russell Readers will meet May 9, 6:30 p.m. in Meeting Room 2, Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown, to discuss “The School” by Donald Barthelme from the collection 100 Years of the Best American Short Stories. For more information about participating in the group or acquiring the text, contact Chantal Foster at 860-573-2946 or email Chantal.foster@comcast.net. DVORAK PROGRAM: A free talk on classical composer Antonin Dvorak will be presented by music historian Jeffrey Engel at 1:30 p.m. May 9 at the Essex Library, 33 West Ave. Engel will focus on Dvorak’s influences and inspirations and excerpts of his music will be played. RSVP: 860-7671560. LIFELONG LEARNING: Chester Village West, 317 West Main St., Chester, continues its spring Lifelong Learning Program May 9, 4 p.m., with Ella Grasso: Connecticut’s Pioneering Governor with author Jon Purmont, Ed.D., Professor Emeritus, Southern Connecticut State University. To register, call 860-6501815, email ChesterVillageWest@LCSnet.com.

Wednesday, May 10

MOVIE: See “The Good Lie,” May 10, 6-8 p.m. in the Hubbard Room, Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown. A group of Sudanese refugees given the chance to resettle in America arrive in Kansas City, Missouri, where their encounter with an employment agency counselor forever changes all of their lives. Drop-in, no registration. VETS SERVING VETS: A veterans recognition event will be held May 10, 4-8 p.m. at Essex Veterans Memorial Hall, Centerbrook, The public is invited. Tickets are $10 and include a hotdog or hamburger, chips and a soda; a raw bar will be available as well as a full bar and finger desserts for additional fees, as well as a teacup raffle and 50⁄50 raffle. For tickets call 860395-7113.

Thursday, May 11

PORTRAIT DEMO: The Art Guild of Middletown’s guest, award-winning artist Frank Bruckmann, will demonstrate painting a portrait in pastel at its meeting May 11, 7 p.m., at Woodside Intermediate School, 30 Woodside Road, Cromwell. Meetings are free and open to the public. For information go to www. middletownartguild.org.

READERS THEATER: Readers Theater will meet May 11, 7 p.m. in the Hubbard Room, Russell Library, 123 Broad St., Middletown, presenting Disgraced by Ayad Akhtar Akhtar, which puts contemporary attitudes toward religion under a microscope, revealing how tenuous self-image can be for people born into one way of being who have embraced another.

Friday, May 12

THE WANDERING UTERUS: Wandering Uterus III: at MAC650 Gallery, Middletown, an exhibit featuring 10 female Connecticut artists opens Friday May 12 from 7-10 p.m. and continues through May 27. This third exhibit by the Wandering Uterus group promises a diverse range of fine art styles and media by many of the same artists from the group’s previous exhibitions with some dynamic new artists added to the line-up. Music for the opening event will be provided by JikiJikija. GENEALOGY GROUP: Come to the Godfrey Memorial Library, 134 Newfield St., Middletown, for ongoing informal sessions focused on researching your Early American ancestors. This month’s meeting is May 12 at 9:30 a.m. Sessions are free to Godfrey Premium Members or $10 a session. No pre-registration necessary. Call 860-3464375 for more information.

LIBRARY BOOK SALE: The Friends of the Russell Library Book Sale will be held May 12, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., May 13, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in the Activity Room, Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown. Books, CDs and DVDs will be available for adults and children. MOTHER’S DAY PLANT SALE: Water’s Edge Center for Health & Rehabilitation, 111 Church Street in Middletown, will host a Mother’s Day Weekend Plant Sale with the proceeds benefiting the Middlesex Hospital Cancer Center, May 12, 3-6 p.m. and May 13, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. with assorted annuals and 10-inch hanging baskets.

Saturday, May 13

LIBRARY BOOK SALE: The Friends of the Russell Library Book Sale will be held May 12, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., May 13, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in the Activity Room, Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown. Books, CDs and DVDs will be available for adults and children. MOTHER’S DAY PLANT SALE: Water’s Edge Center for Health & Rehabilitation, 111 Church Street in Middletown, will host a Mother’s Day Weekend Plant Sale with the proceeds benefiting the Middlesex Hospital Cancer Center, May 12, 3-6 p.m. and May 13, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. with as-

sorted annuals and 10-inch hanging baskets. WESLEYAN POTTERS SALE: Wesleyan Potters, 350 South Main St., Middletown, will hold its annual Spring Sale and Festival, May 13, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Work by more than 30 artists will feature unique gift ideas just in time for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, graduation, and the bridal season. For more information, contact Wesleyan Potters at 860-347-5925 or visit http://www.wesleyanpotters.com ESSEX MAY MARKET: The Essex May Market will be held May 13, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., rain or shine, in the Essex Town Park on Main Street, Essex. CEMETERY FUNDRAISER: The Friends of Indian Hill Cemetery & All American Productions will present “From Gothic to Light: A Day of Art, History, Music and Fashion”, a unique fundraiser to benefit the restoration of the Russell Chapel at Indian Hill Cemetery, May 13, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Indian Hill Cemetery, 383 Washington St, Middletown, Ct For more information please contact: All american productions 1@ gmail.com. The rain date is May 20. PLANT SALE: The Ladies Aid Society of Haddam Neck Congregational Church will hold a plant sale on May 13 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Haddam Neck Grange Hall, 26 Quarry Hill Road, Haddam Neck. A variety of plants will be available for purchase, provided by Ladies Aid members along with geraniums in muli color choices. www.haddam neckcongregationalchurch.org for information or call Suzie Olsen 860-267-2848 for geranium orders. Proceeds benefit church restoration projects.

Sunday, May 14

SUNDAY WORSHIP: Worship with Eucharist, 9 a.m.; 10:30 a.m. Sunday School and Confirmation, 10:30 a.m., all at Faith Lutheran Church on 300 Washington Street, Middletown. For more information, visit: www.faithelcamiddletown.org.

Monday, May 15

REMARKABLE WOMEN: Connecticut’s Remarkable Women, presented by Executive Director of the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame Kathryn Gloor, will be held May 15, 7 p.m. at the Essex Library, 33 West Ave., focus on well-known and lesser known heroines, the CWHF and its mission and programs. RSVP: 860-7671560.

Tuesday, May 16

GENEALOGY TRAINING: Group Training Session for Newer Genealogists will be held May 16, 9:30 a.m. at Godfrey Memorial Library, 134 Newfield Street, Middletown. Sessions are free to Godfrey Premium Members or $10 a session. No pre-registration necessary. Call 860-346-4375 for more info. Bring your laptop to make the most out of this useful information. TOM THUMB: Chester Village West, 317West Main St., Chester, continues its spring Lifelong Learning Program May 16, 4 p.m., with Becoming Tom Thumb: Charles Stratton, P.T. Barnum, and the Dawn of American Celebrity by Eric D. Lehman, Ph.D., Professor, University of Bridgeport. To register, call 860-650-1815, email ChesterVillageWest@LCSnet.com. THE MUSIC MAN: Auditions for Artful Living’s production of “The Music Man” will be held May 16-17 in the Wagner Theatre at HK Middle School, Route 81, Killingworth. Children ages 8-13, 6-7 p.m., adults and young adults, age 14 and up, 7-9 p.m. No appointments are needed. Bring marked sheet music. Accompanist will be provided. Children will sing in small groups (no need for prepared song unless auditioning for Winthrop or Amaryllis). Details at www.ArtfulLivingCT.com. For information call producer Chris Solimene at 860-389-1363 ORIGAMI: Origami group will meet May 16, 6:30 p.m., for ages 7 and up, in the Activity Room, Russell Library 123 Broad Street, Middletown. Explore the Japanese art of paper folding. Drop in, no registration.

Wednesday, May 17

THE MUSIC MAN: Auditions for Artful Living’s production of “The Music Man” will be held May 17 in the Wagner Theatre at HK Middle School, Route 81, Killingworth. Children ages 8-13, 6-7 p.m., adults and young adults, age 14 and up, 7-9 p.m. No appointments are needed. Bring marked sheet music. Accompanist will be provided. Children will sing in small groups (no need for prepared song unless auditioning for Winthrop or Amaryllis). Details at www.ArtfulLivingCT.com. For information call producer Chris Solimene at 860-389-1363 ONE BOOK EVENT: The Portland Library presents One Book on the Riverbend events in May. The book is “Boys in the Boat” by Daniel Brown. On May 17 at 6 p.m. at the Waverly Senior Center, Portland, come for a multi-generational book discussion with Marsha Bansavage. For information call the library at 860342-6770 or go to www. portlandlibraryct.org SPRING CONCERT: Mercy High School’s Spring Concert May 17 at 7 p.m. at the high school, 1740 Randolph Road, Middletown. Free and open to the public, the concert will feature performances by the Chamber Choir, Wind Ensemble, Concert Choir and No Man’s Jazz Ensemble. For details go to www.mercyhigh.com or call 860-346-6659.

Thursday, May 18

SAILING CLUB: Shoreline Sailing Club Meet The Skippers Meeting will be held May 18, 7 p.m. at the Westbrook Elks Club ,142 Seaside Ave. Westbrook. Come and meet the skippers and get to know a bit more about boating. The first meeting is free; subsequent meetings are $10. A cash bar is available. Learn more at www. shorelinesailingclub.org PEGGY STERN TRIO: The Peggy Stern Trio will present a free concert on May 18, 7 p.m. in the Hubbard Room, Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown. In this concert, the trio explores the Great American Songbook, a timeless soundtrack written almost entirely by Jews, which gave voice to a saga of love, determination, and assimilation. Free, public welcome.

Friday, May 19

GENEALOGY GROUP: The Godfrey Memorial Library, 134 Newfield St., Middletown, has a genealogy group that offers ongoing informal sessions focused on skills for genealogists seeking ancestors in their countries of origin. This month’s meeting is May 19 at 9:30 a.m. Sessions are free to Godfrey Premium Members or $10 a session. No pre-registration necessary. Call 860-3464375 for more information. POET’S CORNER: Poet’s Corner: with Susan Allison / Poets Resist, will be held May 19, 1 p.m. in the Hubbard Room, Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown. Middletown’s Poet Laureate Susan Allison will be discussing resistance poetry with the community. Participants are invited to bring their favorite poems. Drop-in, no registration. HEALTHY START: Healthy Me, Healthy Start, will be held May 19, 10:30 a.m. in the Activity Room, Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown. This free, early childhood nutrition program is designed to support parents in establishing healthy eating habits in their young child. Register in person or by calling the Youth and Family Learning Department at 860-344-8479.

Saturday, May 20

HIP HOP WORKSHOP: A hip hop workshop: Turntablism with DJ N.E.B., will be held May 20, 10 a.m. in the Hubbard Room, Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown. One of the four pillars of Hip Hop is ‘Turntablism’ — the art of creating music using two turntables and cross-fading from one to the other. Drop-in, no

registration.

BREAKING WORKSHOP: HIP HOP Workshop: Breaking with B-boy Bryan Giles, will be held May 20, 10 a.m. in the Activity Room, Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown. All ages are welcome to participate or just watch as teaching artist and b-boy Bryan Giles demonstrates and teaches the classic movements of breaking and its many variations. Dropin, no registration. GRAFFITI ART: HIP HOP Workshop: Graffiti Art, will be held May 20, 12:15 p.m. in the Activity Room, Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown. Participants of all ages are welcome to learn the basics of graffiti art. Drop-in, no registration. RHYMING WORKSHOP: HIP HOP Workshop: Rhyming with Tang Sauce, will be held May 20, 12:15 p.m. in the Hubbard Room, Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown. Come and learn from Hartford Rap artist Tang Sauce as he teaches the basics of rhyming. Drop-in, no registration. This series of workshops is funded by the Middletown Commission on the Arts. HOOPFEST EXHIBIT: Middletown Summer Hoopfest Exhibit Opening will be held May 20, 11 a.m. in the lobby of the Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown. In celebration of the upcoming Tenth Annual Middletown Summer Hoopfest, an exhibit of photos from the nine previous years will be decorating the lobby and alcove galleries, all taken by photographer Tony Donovan. All are welcome. Light refreshments will be served.

Sunday, May 21

LATE NITE CATECHISM: The longest running Off-Broadway show in history is coming to Saint Mary Church in Portland, on Sunday May 21, 7 p.m., Late Nite Catechism’ will inspire and delight you, and even educate you, just like it was back in the day. Tickets are available by calling 860342-2328. JEWISH WAR VETERANS: Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A., Major General Maurice Rose Post 51, will meet on Sunday, May 21, 9 a.m. at Ahavath Cheseb Synagogue, 560 Montague Ave. New London. All veterans, whether they served in war or peace time, are invited. After a 9 a.m. Minyan Service at 9 a.m. is followed by a Kosher brunch with whitefish salad, bagels and cream cheese and coffee. Following the brunch, the members will plan upcoming programs, including the 50th anniversary of the Six Day War in Israel in June 1967. SUNDAY WORSHIP: Worship with Eucharist, 9 a.m.; 10:30 a.m. Sunday School and Confirmation, 10:30 a.m., all at Faith Lutheran Church on 300 Washington Street, Middletown. For more information, visit: www.faithelcamiddletown.org.

Monday, May 22 Tuesday, May 23

AGING VETERANS: Aging Veterans and Poly-Trauma: Examining the Mental Health of Aging Veterans from a Human Ecology Perspective, hosted by the Gatekeeper School for Holistic Aging and Ecological Integration, will be held may 23, 7:30 -11:30 a.m. in the Crystal Ballroom, Middletown Elks Club, 44 Maynard Street, Middletown. Unique Continuing Education Credit (CEC) Workshops for Geriatric Social Service Professionals are available. To register go to www.stlukescommunityservices.org ONE BOOK FILM: Film Screening: The Boys of 36 (A One Book Event), will be held May 23, 6:30 p.m. in the Hubbard Room, Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown. The Boys of ‘36 is the thrilling story of the American Olympic rowing team that triumphed against all odds in Nazi Germany. For more information about how your book group or organization may get involved, contact Christy Billings, cbillings@russelllibrary.org or call 860-3472520.