Middletown Garden Club tours are today

MIDDLETOWN — The Middletown Garden Club House & Garden Tour runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday in Durham and Middletown. The tour features two historic houses, seven gardens, music, refreshments, a boutique and tablescape raffles. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 the day of the tour. You can purchase tickets online at middletowngardenclub.com or at Stone Post Gardens, 1185 Randolph Rd. The event will take place rain or shine.

The tour includes two farms: one with extensive vegetable gardens, flower gardens and specimen trees and the other with turkeys, chickens, heirloom pigs, a goat, a small horse, fruit trees, berry bushes and perennial gardens.

Two of the properties feature woodland gardens and two properties show very formal gardens. Two 19th Century houses, each adapted for a young family, will be open for the tour. In addition, ticket holders can listen to a violinist, partake in refreshments, view a museum exhibit, participate in a raffle of tablescapes and shop a boutique. On display will be two Middletown Garden Club projects: the documentation of a garden for the Smithsonian Institute Archives of American Gardens and a joint vegetable growing project with MARC clients.

Property addresses and parking instructions are available on the tour ticket.

Candlelight vigil marks Orlando shooting

CHESTER — Mom’s Demand Action CT, Middlesex Chapter is sponsoring a Candlelight Vigil to honor the 49 victims of the Orlando Pulse shooting on June 12 at 8 p.m. at the Chester Meeting House grounds, 4 Liberty St. Chester.

The first 40 attendees will be given official Orlando Pulse Ribbons made by the #RibbonMaker. Speakers will include Katie Harris of Mom’s Demand Action, a representative from Gays Against Guns, a gun violence survivor and a letter from Senator Richard Blumenthal will be read. Forty-nine candles, symbolizing the 49 victims of the Pulse shooting will be lit. As the names of the 49 victims are read, the candles will be extinguished.

Mom’s Demand Action was founded by stay-at-home mom Shannon Watts on December 15, 2012, in response to the devastating shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. The organization quickly flourished in to a leading force for gun violence prevention, with chapters in all 50 states and a powerful grassroots network of moms that has successfully effected change at the local, state and national level. In December 2013, Moms Demand Action partnered with Mayors Against Illegal Guns (later Everytown for Gun Safety) to unite a nationwide movement of millions of Americans working together to change the game and end the epidemic of gun violence that effects every community. Moms Demand Action supports the 2nd Amendment and believes common-sense solutions can help decrease the escalating epidemic of gun violence that kills too many of our children and loved ones every day. Text READY to 64433 to join.

Gays Against Guns NY is an inclusive direct actions group of LGBTQ people and their allies committed to nonviolently breaking the gun industry’s chain of investors, manufacturers, the NRA and politicians who block safer gun laws. Members meet every other Thursday at 7 pm at NYC’s LGBT Center (208 W. 13th St). All who want to fight for better gun laws are welcome.

CMS holding Summer Rock Camp

CENTERBROOK – Community Music School has launched a new, weeklong summer initiative at its main campus at 90 Main St. in Centerbrook. Summer Rock Camp session will run July 30-Aug. 3 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. each day. The camp is designed for intermediate to advanced students aged 12 and up who play guitar, bass, drums, woodwinds, brass, or voice.

Directed by CMS Guitar Instructor John Birt, Summer Rock Camp will help students explore popular music on a variety of instruments. Students will gain experience putting together an ensemble and learn how to prepare for a performance. All instruments are welcome, as well as all styles of music such as classic rock, country, pop, blues and more. The camp will end in a live performance at the Centerbrook Meeting House for family and friends on Aug. 3 at 1 p.m.

Tuition for this camp is $225 and scholarships are available for families with a financial need.

For information and to register, visit www.community-musicschool.org/summer or call 860-7670026.

Community Music School offers innovative music programming for infants through adults, building on a 35 year tradition of providing quality music instruction to residents of shoreline communities. Learn more at visit www.community-music-school.org or call 860767-0026.

Vinal Tech to host Exploration Academy

Vinal Technical High School invites students entering grades 7-8 to this year’s Exploration Academy, June 27-July 27, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The program is free.

Students will discover their strengths and build confidence while learning new skills in machine tools, carpentry, information technology, hairdressing and other courses. Registration is required.

To sign up, go to vinal.cttech.org for a registration form.

For information, contact RoseAnn Vaughan at RoseAnn.Vaughan@ct.gov or 860-3447100 x407.

Senior center offers lunch, theater trip

Have lunch at the Gelston House then go to the Goodspeed Opera House to see “Oliver.” The East Hampton Senior Center has reserved Side Orchestra seats for the 2 p.m. show on Aug. 22. Tickets are $80, which includes lunch and the show.

Transportation will be provided for anyone 60 and over. A $3 donation is requested. Senior van seats are limited or members can drive themselves. The van will be leave the center at 11:15 a.m. to be seated for 11:30 a.m. lunch.

For information, call the center at 860-267-4426. Ask for staff when signing up for this event. Payment due at sign up; no phone reservations. Deadline is July 20.