Calendar

Today

WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA: Wreaths Across America will hold a special meeting, Aug. 30, 7p.m. at the VFW post, 20North Maple St., East Hampton. The group will be continuing making plans for a special ceremony to be held in December and wreath mail orders. For more information, email Ann McLaughlin at amclaug105@aol.com BLOOD DRIVE: A blood drive will be held Aug. 30, 7:15 a.m.-6p.m. at the Middletown Police Department, 222Main St., Middletown, in the community room. Blood donations are urgently needed, according to the Red Cross. To make an appointment, visit www. RedCrossBlood.org or call 800-733-2767. THOREAU DISCUSSION: Take part in a discussion of Henry David Thoreau’s essay, “Civil Disobedience,” Aug. 30, 6:30p.m. in the Hubbard Room, Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown. Copies of the essay available at the Borrowing Desk, or find an e-copy online. WEDNESDAY WELLNESS: Wednesday Wellness: Lyme Disease Prevention with health educator Daisy Hernandez, Aug. 30, 6p.m. at the Henry Carter Hull Library, Clinton. For details go to hchlibrary.org. ICE CREAM SUNDAES DAY: Ice Cream Sundaes Day at the East Hampton Senior Center, Aug. 30, 1p.m. Sign up at the front desk. For information, go to www.easthamptonct.gov and click on Senior Center or call 860-267-4426. AUDITIONS: The Meeting House Players announce open auditions for Rick Abbot’s madcap comedy “Play On!” on Aug. 29-30, 7p.m. in the Meeting House, 4Liberty St., Chester. Flexible casting for men and woman ages early 20s to mid-60s. Those auditioning will be asked to read from the script. Directed by Debbie Alldredge. Production dates Oct. 27-8and Nov. 3-4. For additional data contact The Meeting House Players@ gmail.com or 860-526-3684.

Thursday, Aug. 31

CLINTON FARMERS MARKET: Clinton Farmers’ Market is being held this summer at the Henry Carter Hull Library, 10Killingworth Turnpike, Clinton, Thursdays from 4-7p.m. from July 13to Aug. 31, rain or shine. Stock up on fresh produce and baked goods from your favorite local vendors.

Friday, Sept. 1

HADDAMNECKFAIR: The 106th annual Haddam Neck Fair will be held Sept. 1-4, Labor DayWeekend, Friday through Monday at the Haddam Neck Fairgrounds. On Friday the fair opens at 4p.m., Saturday, Sunday 8a.m.-8p.m. and Sunday, 8a.m.-5p.m. This agricultural fair offers animal shows, competitions, baking contests, children’s contests, activities, rides, vendors, food andmuchmore. For full details go to haddamneckfair.com. SUPPORT GROUP: Eating Disorders Anonymous (EDA), a group based on the 12steps of AA for those suffering with any type of eating disorder, holds open discussion meetings on Mondays from 6-7p.m. at the Deep River Congregational Church, 1Church St., Deep River. For information call 860-399-7313. FIRST FRIDAY: Raw oysters, brick over pizza slices, heirloom tomatoes with ricotta and basil, wine and beer tastings, ice cream cones, free drinks and more will be offered by downtown eateries First Friday, Sept. 1from 5to 8 p.m. The first annual Taste of Chester will include tastings by Grano Restaurant which isn’t opening until later this fall in the former brick bank building on Main Street. Outside the building, owner Joel Gargano will be serving heirloom tomatoes and marinated roasted cauliflower. At Otto’s, slices of brick-oven pizza will be $2while River Tavern will be offering $1drinks. The Chester package Store will be doing wine and beer tastings and the Pattaconk Bar and Grill will also offer tastings of any beer on tap and, at its ice cream window, any cone for $1.50. Outside the L&E, the restaurant will be serving oysters on the half shell for $1 each and Thai Riverside will give a drink away with each entrée. All the shops and galleries will be open until 8p.m. with art openings, new lines of merchandise and specials plus wine and treats. BOOKS AVAILABLE: Margaret Atwood’s Alias Grace: A Book Discussion, books available Sept. 1, discussion is Oct. 12, 6:30p.m. in the Hubbard Room, Russell Library, 123 Broad St., Middletown. Based on the true story of the murders of Thomas Kinnear and his housekeeper Nancy Montgomery in 1843, Atwood develops the character of Grace Marks, one of the people convicted of the crime. Please sign up for the discussion online at our events calendar.

Saturday, Sept. 2

POETRY CIRCLE: Henry Carter Hull Library’s Poetry Circle Monthly Meeting will be held Sept. 2, 11a.m. The program is free; for information call 860-669-2342or visit hchlibrary.org. HADDAM NECK FAIR: The 106th annual Haddam Neck Fair will be held Sept. 1-4, Labor Day Weekend, Friday through Monday at the Haddam Neck Fairgrounds. On Friday the fair opens at 4p.m., Saturday, Sunday 8a.m.-8 p.m. and Sunday, 8a.m.-5p.m. This agricultural fair offers animal shows, competitions, baking contests, children’s contests, activities, rides, vendors, food and much more. For full details go to haddamneckfair.com. HUGE TAG SALE: Notre Dame Church tag sale, Sept. 2, 8 a.m.-1p.m. at 272Main St., Durham, rain or shine, with more than 40vendors outside and a hidden treasures sale in the church hall, with food for sale. For information, call Bill Shumway at 860-349-3397.

Sunday, Sept. 3

SUNDAYWORSHIP: Eucharist worship service is Sunday, Sept. 3, 9a.m. at Faith Lutheran Church, 300Washington St., in Middletown. For more information, go to www. faithelcamiddletown.org. HADDAMNECK FAIR TOUR: Haddam Neck Fair Tour will be held Sept. 3, 2:30-3:15p.m. Meet in front of the Haddam Neck Grange Hall; free with fair admission. Join Haddam Historical Society Executive Director, Elizabeth Malloy for a fun and informative tour of the Haddam Neck Fair Grounds. Co-author of the Haddam Neck Fair 100Year History, Malloy will cover architectural highlights and historical anecdotes. Participants will meet long time fair attendees (90 plus years) and former winners of the baby contest, and learn fascinating tidbits about one of Connecticut’s oldest agricultural fairs. HADDAM NECK FAIR: The 106th annual Haddam Neck Fair will be held Sept. 1-4, Labor Day Weekend, Friday through Monday at the Haddam Neck Fairgrounds. On Friday the fair opens at 4p.m., Saturday, Sunday 8a.m.-8 p.m. and Sunday, 8a.m.-5p.m.

This agricultural fair offers animal shows, competitions, baking contests, children’s contests, activities, rides, vendors, food and much more. For full details go to haddamneckfair.com.

Monday, Sept. 4 SUPPORT GROUP: Eating

Disorders Anonymous (EDA), a group based on the 12steps of AA for those suffering with any type of eating disorder, holds open discussion meetings on Mondays from 6-7p.m. at the Deep River Congregational Church, 1Church St., Deep River. For information call 860-399-7313. HADDAMNECK FAIR: The 106th annual Haddam Neck Fair will be held Sept. 1-4, Labor Day Weekend, Friday through Monday at the Haddam Neck Fairgrounds. On Friday the fair opens at 4p.m., Saturday, Sunday 8 a.m.-8p.m. and Sunday, 8 a.m.-5p.m. This agricultural fair offers animal shows, competitions, baking contests, children’s contests, activities, rides, vendors, food and much more. For full details go to haddamneckfair.com.

Tuesday, Sept. 5

BOOK DISCUSSION: Racial Justice Book Discussion, Sept. 5, 6p.m., in Meeting Room 2, Russell Library, 123 Broad St., Middletown, on “Just Mercy” by Bryan Stevenson. Copies of the book are available at the checkout desk. For more information, contact Christy Billings by emailing cbillings@russelllibrary.org or by calling 860347-2528ext 122.

Wednesday, Sept. 6

OPEN MIC NIGHTS: On the first Wednesday of every month, all are invited to Jack ‘n Jill Open Mic Nights, to benefit New Horizons Domestic Violence Services, at the Msso Grille, 106 Court St., Middletown, and hosted by Old Lonesome Dave. Singers, songwriters, poets, musicians, comics and dancers as well as listeners and supporters are welcome. Signup starts at 7;30p.m., and performances begin at 8p.m. To reach Mezzo, call 860-346-600. Participants can win a chance to perform at The Jack n’ Jill Music Festival, which benefits New Horizons Domestic Violence Services (newhorizonsdv. com/history). LIFFELONG LEARNING LECTURES: Chester Village West, 317W. Main St., Chester, continues its Lifelong Learning Program with six free-and-open-to-thepublic lectures in September, October and November, in partnership with the Wesleyan Institute for Lifelong Learning and Middlesex Hospital. Q&A and reception with light refreshments follows. To register for one or more programs, call 860322-6455, email ChesterVillageWest@LCSnet.com. All begin at 4p.m. Sept. 6, Working with a Hospitalist, Sept. 13, Origins of Modern Art Part I; Oct. 3, Health Care; Oct. 20. Modern Art Part II; Nov. 6, The Women’s Playwright Initiative in Connecticut; Nov. 13, Paradoxes of Wellbeing. PAINTING DEMO: The Cheshire Art League’s “The Gesture Figure” painting demonstration by Jay Babin will be held Sept. 6, 6:30 p.m. at the Cheshire Library, 104Main St., Cheshire. The program is free and the public is welcome. MOOSE IN CT: “Moose in Connecticut” presented by DEEP wildlife biologist Andrew LaBonte, Sept 6, 6:30p.m. at the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge, 733Old Clinton Road, Westbrook. The program is free; register with shaun_roche@fws.gov