CALENDAR

Tuesday, April 24 POETRY READING: Poetry Reading and Signing with Stephanie Burt, 7 p.m., April 24, free. Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore, 413 Main Street, Middletown, 860-6853939, Wesleyan.edu/rjjuliabookstore.

RETIREMENT AND TAXES: Tax Free in Retirement will be held at the Durham Library on Tuesday, April 24 at 7 p.m. Michael Alimo, of USA Financial & Tax Services, will discuss strategies that can help you get closer to a tax-free retirement. Registration suggested. Register online at http://www.durhamlibrary.org/program-registration/

LET’S DO LUNCH: Let’s do Lunch with the East Hampton Senior Center, Tuesday, April 24 leaving at 11:15 a.m. The Adam’s Mill, Manchester. Lunch on you, a $3 donation requested. Sign up a Front Desk.

THE AMERICAN DINER: Middlesex County Historical Society will present a talk, “The Architecture of the American Diner,”with CT River Museum Director Chris Dobbs, 7 p.m., April 24 in the Hubbard Room at the Russell Library, 123 Broad St., Middletown. The talk is free. Learn the story of the diner’s form and function. For further information, contact the Historical Society at 860-346-0746.

A CHALLENGING CHILD: Community Health Center, with help from Parenting Support Services, 675 Main St, Middletown is offering Collaborative Problem Solving® for adults, a non-punitive, strengths-based approach to discipline effective in all systems including at home. This free, five- week series, sponsored by NAMI Shoreline, begins Tuesday, April 24, 4-6 p.m., and facilitated by Divinna Schmitt, M Ed, CPS Certified. Space is limited. Registration required: Divinna@comcast.net or call 860-8760236 to learn more.

TERRIFIC TWOS: Twos are Terrific meets Tuesdays, April 3, 10*, 17, and 24, 10:30 a.m. in the Activity Room, Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown. This librarian-led program is designed to increase two-year-olds’ literacy and social skills as they enjoy story time, movement, music and play time. Siblings welcome. Drop in; no registration required. *The April 10th session will meet in the Hubbard Room.

MONEY STORIES: Money, Money, Money: a special story time for Money Smart Week, April 24, 6 p.m. in the Room, Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown. Children ages 3 - 6 will learn the value of saving money through related stories and crafts. No currency is needed. Drop in; no registration required.

MASTER YOUR MONEY: Become a Master of Your Money: a workshop on organizing your personal finances, April 24, 6 p.m. in Meeting Room 3, Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown. Using Excel to Manage your Investments, presented by Bob Carlson, a.k.a.”Count da-Mo’ney. This hands-on class is taught using library- supplied laptops on Windows 7 and Excel version 2013. Seating is limited to 8 students. To register call 860-347-2520. CLASSIC MYSTERY DISCUSSION:

Classic Mystery Book Discussion, “The Killings at Badger’s Drift” by Caroline Graham, will be April 24, 7 p.m. in Meeting Room 2, Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown. Copies are available at the Borrowing desk.

Wednesday, April 25

E.H. ART ASSOCIATION: The next meeting of the East Hampton Art Association will be held April 25, 7 p.m. at the East Hampton Community Center at 105 Main Street. The guest artist is pastelist Robin Frisella of New Hampshire, with a demonstration. The public is welcome to attend all East Hampton Art Association meetings; admission is $4 for nonmembers. Students are always free.

POETRY FUN: Have fun with poetry at the East Hampton Senior Center, Wednesday, April 25 at 1 p.m. Dedicated in the Memory of Hugo DeSarro, our Samantha’s dad, Dr. Joe Griska will be sharing poems of some of the great British and American writers as well as some of Hugo DeSarro’s pieces. Sign up in Activity Book if interested in attending.

STOP WORRYING: Stacey Blase, Ph.D. leads a workshop that will highlight scientifically researched techniques for managing worry in our daily lives, April 24, 6 p.m. at Henry Carter Hull Library, Clinton. The free event is part of HCH Library’s monthly “Wellness Wednesday” series which takes place on the last Wednesday of each month. Visit hchlibrary.org for details. BUDGETING WITH EXCEL: Money Smart Week: Budgeting with Excel, will be held Wednesday, April 25, 1:30 p.m. in Meeting Room 3, Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown. Learn how to create a monthly household budget using Microsoft Excel. Class capacity is 8 seats. Registration recommended; dropins suggested if there’s room. Call 860347-2520. PLANT TALK: Jeff the Plant Guy will present “Growing Tomatoes and Potatoes” April 25, 6:30 p.m. at the the Middletown Senior and Community Center in the socialization room. Pizza provided; for ages 14 and up. Fee is $5. per person, 16 and under must be with an adult.

Thursday, April 26 AUTHOR TALK: Sam Rosenfeld, “The Polarizers”, 7 p.m., April 26, fee. Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore, 413 Main Street, Middletown, 860-685-3939, Wesleyan.edu/rjjuliabookstore.

ONE CHOICE: One Choice Changes Everything, presented by the Middlefield and Durham Wellness Coalition and Durham Public Library, will be held Thursday, April 26 at 6:30 p.m. at the library. Jennifer DiMauro, PharmD at Omnicare, will give a talk and Q&A on prescription drug abuse awareness. Registration suggested. Register online at http://www.durhamlibrary.org/choice/

HUBBARD HOUSE CONCERT: The April Hubbard House concert will be held April 26, 7:30 p.m., with a string ensemble consisting of Wesleyan University students, The f Holes, who perform music ranging from classical chamber music to arrangements of modern songs and some of their own compositions. Admission is $10. The Hubbard House, 377 Ridge Road, Middletown. Seating is limited; reserve by contacting Robert at Rnastamail@aol.com.

LIBRARY JOB GROUP: The library Job Group will meet Thursdays, April 5, 19 and 26, 10 a.m.-12:30 pm. in the Hubbard Room, Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown. Each Thursday a different topic related to careers is discussed. Presenters range from local business professionals to nationally renowned authors and career counselors. A networking session follows the presentation. Registration not required.

RHYME TIME: Baby Rhyme Time meets Thursdays, April 5, 19, and 26, 10:30 a.m. in the Activity Room, Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown. For babies one year and under and their caregivers; sing songs, learn rhymes, finger plays and more in this fun, interactive program. No session on April 12. Drop in; no registration.

STORY HOUR: Preschool Power Story Hour meets Thursdays, April 5, 12, 19, and 26, 1:30 p.m. in the Activity Room, Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown. This program provides the opportunity for preschoolers to practice their listening skills and increase their social confidence while enjoying stories, music, movement and a craft with their caregivers. For ages 3 - 5 (Pre-k through kindergarten) Siblings welcome. Drop in; no registration.

MILITARY WRITING GROUP: We Were There: Writing Your Military Experiences, meets Thursdays, April 5, 12, 19 and 26, 6:30 p.m. in Meeting Room 2, Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown. Author Elisabeth Petry will continue to lead the group, which invites veterans to share their stories and photos in their own voices. New members are encouraged to visit. Workshop facilitator is Christy Billings. She can be reached at (860) 3472528 or cbillings@russelllibrary.org

TWILIGHT TALES: Twilight Tales meets Thursday, April 26, 6 p.m. in the Activity Room, Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown. Join us for this special evening story time which includes time for play and a craft. For ages 3 - 6 (Prek kindergarten) Siblings welcome. Drop in; no registration. FINANCIAL ADVICE: From Millennials to Boomers - Financial Advice Built for the Generations presented by Peter Leponnes-Apella Capital, will be held April 26, 6:30 p.m. in the Hubbard Room, Russell Library, 123 Broad Street, Middletown. No matter our age, we experience many of the same financial pressures. Gain some helpful strategies and financial habits to help get you headed in the right direction. Free. Drop in; no registration. BRICK BUNCH: The Deep River Library’s Brick Bunch meets April 26; 3:45-4:45 p.m. Enjoy open Lego play with friends.

BABY BOUNCE: Baby Bounce, storytime for babies to 24 months at the Deep River Library, 10:30 a.m. April 5, 12, 26. Older siblings are also welcome. No class April 19. Drop in, no registration required.

WATER SURVIVAL: Learn methods to avoid and survive water emergencies whether they happen in the backyard pool or the open ocean at Henry Carter Hull Library, April 26 at 6 p.m. Awardwinning journalist, author, and survival expert Ben Rayner will share ways to prevent a tragedy that apply to every age and level of experience at this free program. Books will also be available for purchase. hchlibrary.org PARENT WORKSHOP: A Parent Educational Workshop on Positive Discipline, founded by Dr. Jane Nelsen, a parenting philosophy that focuses on building mutually respectful relationships with children, will be held April 26, 5:30 p.m. at the Children's Tree Montessori School, 96 Essex Road, Old Saybrook. Free workshop. Dinner, childcare available for $10 per family. To register, call 860-3883536, or visit www.childrenstree.org.

Friday April 27

FORESTRY COMMISSION: The annual celebration of Middletown’s Urban Forestry Commission will be held Friday, April 27, at 2 p.m. at Wadsworth Mansion, 421 Wadsworth St. The public is welcome to attend and the event is free.

FUN FRIDAYS: Fun Friday at the Deep River Library, for preschoolers, 10:30 a.m. April 6, 13, 27. No class April 20. ABC Amigos will visit April 13, with Spanish stories and songs. Drop in, no registration required.

FRIDAY MOVIE: Acton Goes to the Estuary, April 27, 1 p.m. The library will host a screening of a recently released movie on DVD. Go to www.actonlibrary.org for details.

GRANT FUNDING: How to Secure Grant Funding from Foundations led by Judi Margolin, will be held April 27, 10 a.m. in the Hubbard Room, Russell Library, 123 Broad St. This workshop demystifies the process of securing foundation funding. Built into this session will be an overview of the Foundation Directory Online, the premier source for finding funders, available at the Russell Library. Light refreshments included. Registration is required; call 860-347-2520.