CALENDAR

Monday, Dec. 16

TEEN PAINT NIGHT: Teen Paint Night, 6:30 p.m,. Dec. 16, Durham Public Library. A fun night with Pam’s Picassos. Ages 12 and up. Register at www.durhamlibrary .org

TOWN MEETING: A special town meeting of the electors and citizens qualified to vote at town meetings of the town of Durham will be held at 8 p.m., Dec. 16, the 3rd floor meeting room, Town Hall, to transfer $81,500 from Undesignated fund balance to Operating Budget #420705 Emergency Medical Services line items as show below, for the purposes of (6) months of ambulance service in the amount of $62,500 and the reinstatement of fy19-20 Operating budget in the amount of $19,000 as recommended by the Board of Finance at their meeting of November 21, 2019.

Tuesday, Dec. 17

OPEN MIC: Open Mic Night, 6:30 p.m., Dec. 17, free, registration is required. Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore, 413 Main Street, Middletown. Details at www.wesleyanrjjulia.com or call 860-685-3939

TED TALKS: Henry Carter Hull Library hosts TED Talks, 9:30 a.m., Dec. 17, third Tuesday of each month. See a curated selection of TED Talks followed by discussion over coffee and tea. December’s talks, the joy of giving, the art of asking, life lessons from stories of generosity. Free. Details at hchlibrary.org

SOUND HEALING: Crystal Bowl Sound Healing with Lou Sorrentino, 7:30 p.m, Dec. 17, donation, Buttonwood Tree, 605 Main St., Middletown. buttonwood.org for details. CHRISTMAS CONCERT: Masonicare at Chester Village hosts a Christmas Concert, featuring Con Brio Choral Society, 7:30 p.m., Dec. 17, STAR Activity Room. Call 860-615-3710 for information.

Wednesday, Dec. 18

COOKIE CHALLENGE: Krinkle Cookie Challenge, 4 p.m., Dec. 18, free, registration is required. Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore, 413 Main St., Middletown. Details at www.wesleyanrjjulia.com or call 860-685-3939 CANDLELIGHT SINGALONG: Community Candlelight Christmas Carol SingAlong Concert, 7 p.m., Dec. 18, Faith Lutheran Church, 300 Washington Street, Middletown. DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS: Drop-In Dungeons & Dragons, 2:30 p.m., Wednesdays, for grades 6 and up. Drop in, no registration, Durham Library. Details, 860-349-9544, www.durhamlibrary.org

Thursday, Dec. 19

ZUMBA CLASS: Zumba with Miss Laura, 6 p.m., Dec. 19, Activity Room, Russell Library, Middletown. For ages 8 to adults. Registration required; russelllibrary.org. SPANISH CONVERSATION:Spanish

Conversation Circle, 4:30 p.m., Dec. 19, Durham Public Library. Facilitated by Marilyn Horn. All levels welcome. Details at www.durhamlibrary.org

STORYTIME: Solstice Storytime, 6:30 p.m., Dec. 19, Durham Public Library. Wintertime stories and an activity. All ages. Register at www.durhamlibrary.org

BABY BOUNCE: Baby Bounce, Deep River Library, 10:30 a.m., Dec. 5, 12, 19. Best for children up to 24 months; older siblings are welcome. Drop in, no registration. SOUND HEALING: Shaking The Tree: Gong Bath & Sound Healing, 7-9 p.m., Dec. 19, $10, Buttonwood Tree, 605 Main St., Middletown. Bring a blanket and pillow. buttonwood.org

Friday, Dec. 20

‘SEUSS’ READING: Staged reading of “A Seussified Christmas Carol” by Peter Bloedel, 7 p.m., Dec. 20, Dec. 21, 2 p.m., 7 p.m., Dec. 22, 2 p.m., Tickets $10, $5 children, free for 3 and under, at the Hole in the Wall Theater, 116 Main Street, New Britain. Reserve at hitw.org.

CHOIR CONCERT: Members of New England Chamber Choir present a Christmas

Carol Sing, 7 p.m, Dec. 20, Second Congregational Church of Middle Haddam, Middle Haddam Road, Middle Haddam. Free, donations welcome. To reach the church, call 860-267-8344 or visit www.uccwebsites.net/secondcongmiddlehaddam.html

FUN FRIDAY: Fun Friday, Deep River Library, for preschoolers, 10:30 a.m., Dec. 6, 13, 20. Drop in, no registration.

AFTER THE FALL: After The Fall, progressive rock, fusion, 8 p.m., Dec. 20, $10, Buttonwood Tree, 605 Main St., Middletown. Details, tickets at buttonwood.org.

LIVE TELETHON: Haddam-Killingworth High School Television will broadcast its 31st annual live telethon, benefiting A Little Compassion Inc/The Nest Coffee House, 8 a.m-12 p.m., Dec. 20. from Contact Kasha Topa-Finberg at hktv@rsd17.org for more information.

Saturday, Dec. 21

STORY TIME: Santa Story Time and Pajama Drive, 11:30 a.m., Dec. 21, free, registration is required. Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore, 413 Main Street, Middletown. Details at www.wesleyanrjjulia.com or call 860-685-3939.

OPEN MIC: Teen Open Mic at the Buttonwood, 3-5 p.m., Dec. 21, Buttonwood Tree, 605 Main St, Middletown. Details, buttonwood.org.

CD RELEASE PARTY: Ken Serio Jazz Trio CD Release Party, 8 p.m., Dec. 21, $15. Buttonwood Tree, 605 Main St, Middletown. Details, buttonwood.org.

COFFEE HOUSE: Coffee House/Open Mic: 6-9 p.m., Dec. 21, Higganum United Methodist Church on Route 154 in Higganum. Good music, free food and beverages. Come and entertain or be entertained. Open to all, no admission charge.

Sunday, Dec. 22

SUNDAY SERVICE: Sunday Church service, First Congregational Church, 355 Main St., Cromwell, 9:30 a.m,. Dec. 22.

SUNDAY EUCHARIST: Worship with Eucharist, 9 a.m., Sunday School, Confirmation and adult education. 10:15 a.m. Faith Lutheran Church, 300 Washington Street, Middletown.

SUNDAY WORSHIP: Trinity Episcopal Church, 345 Main St, Portland,. holds Sunday worship at 9:30 a.m. followed by the coffee hour. All are invited. The church’s missional priest is the Rev. Phil Bjornberg. Sunday School is held at 9:30 a.m. The church can be reached at trinitychurchportlandct@gmail.com

CHOIR CONCERT: New England Chamber Choir concert, Music for Christmas, 4 p.m., Dec. 22, Saint Colman Church, 145 Hubbard St., Middlefield. Free, donations encouraged to support the choir. To reach the church, call 860-349-3058

FESTIVAL OF MUSIC: Festival of Music Worship Service, 10 a.m., Dec. 22, with senior and youth choirs, handbell chancel choirs. Church is decorated, a special coffee hour follows. Deep River Congregational Church, Deep River. Details go to www.deeprivercc.org, call the church office at 860-526-5045 or email: office.drcc@snet.net.

Monday, Dec. 23

MOVIE MATINEE: No School Movie Matinee, 2 p.m., Dec.23, Durham Public Library. All ages, 5 and under with an adult. Includes snacks. Register at www.durhamlibrary.org

Tuesday, Dec. 24

CHRISTMAS PAGEANT: Christmas Eve Pageant, 5:30 p.m., Dec. 24, Deep River Congregational Church, Deep River. Costumed shepherds, angels, and wise men sing carols and tell the Christmas story. Details go to www.deeprivercc.org, call the church office at 860-526-5045 or email: office.drcc@snet.net.

CANDLELIGHT SERVICE: Candlelight Communion Service, 11 p.m., Dec. 24, share in communion, light candles, sing “Silent Night.” Deep River Congregational Church, Deep River. Details go to www.deeprivercc.org, call the church office at 860-526-5045 or email: office.drcc@snet.net.

CHRISTMAS EVE: Christmas Eve service, 4 p.m., Dec. 24, First Congregational Church, 355 Main St., Cromwell. Candlelight service, 11 p.m.

CHRISTMAS EVE: Tuesday, 12/24: 5 p.m.: Candlelight Christmas Eve service, 5 p.m., Dec. 2. Bring donations of any size diapers to Middletown’s Early Head Start “Birth to Three” program. Faith Lutheran Church, 300 Washington Street, Middletown. LIBRARY CLOSED: The Durham Public Library will be closed on Dec. 24-25 for the Christmas holiday.

Wednesday, Dec. 25

LIBRARY CLOSED: The Durham Public Library will be closed on Dec. 24-25 for the Christmas holiday.

Thursday, Dec. 26

KNIT AND SEW: Knit and Sew group meets at the Middlefield Federated Church, Main Street, Middlefield. Open to all skill levels. 7-9 p.m., Oct. 24, Nov. 14, Dec. 12, Dec. 26. For more details, call 860-349-9881.

Friday, Dec. 27

NEW YEAR COUNTDOWN: Count down the New Year, 11 a.m.-12 p.m., Dec. 27, with an interactive DJ Dance Party with Austin Dailey, disco lights, faux champagne toast at noon. For the whole family, all welcome. Deep River Library, free. No registration is required. For more information, go to http://deepriverlibrary. accountsupport.com or call 860-5266039 HOLIDAY SHOW: Acoustic Pirate gives a holiday performance at the Buttonwood Tree, 605 Main St., Middletown, 8 p.m., Dec. 27. $10. Details at buttonwood.org.

Saturday, Dec. 28

FAKE NEWS BAND: Fake News Blues Band peforms at 8 p.m., Dec. 28, $12, at the Buttonwood Tree, 605 Main St., Middletown. Details at buttonwood.org.

STORY TIME: Family Story Time, 10:30 a.m., Dec. 28, free, no registration is required. Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore, 413 Main Street, Middletown. Details at www.wesleyanrjjulia.com or call 860685-3939

Sunday, Dec. 29

FAMILY WORSHIP: Family Worship Service, 10 a.m., (no 8:30 a.m. service, no Sunday School), Dec. 29, Deep River Congregational Church, Deep River. Details go to www.deeprivercc.org, call the church office at 860-526-5045 or email: office.drcc@snet.net.

Monday, Dec. 30

BLOOD DRIVE: Red Cross blood drive, 1-6 p.m. Dec. 30, Henry Carter Hull Library, 10 Killingworth Turnpike, Clinton. Appointments can be made in advance at redcrossblood.org or by calling 1-800RED-CROSS. Walk-ins welcome.

Tuesday, Dec. 31

NEW YEAR’S PARTY: Midnight @ Noon, 11 a.m., Dec. 31, Russell Library, Activity Room, Middletown. Celebrate the new year by making lots of noise and special count down with an actual ball drop. For ages 1-6 years old (toddlers-1st grade), older and younger siblings welcome. No registration required, but space is limited to the first 50 friends who arrive that day.

Wednesday Jan. 1

FIRST DAY HIKE: New Year’s Day hike, 1 p.m., Jan. 1, Meigs Point Nature Center, Hammonasset Beach State Park, 1288 Boston Post Rd, Madison. Bring binoculars, dress for the weather, bring water. Arrive at 12:45 p.m. No dogs permitted. Anticipate wintry conditions; trails may be icy in spots. Hikers participate at their own risk. Refreshments will be available in the Nature Center, after the hike. For information call 203-245-8743, or go to www.hammonasset.org or www.meigspointnaturecenter.org