CALENDAR

Monday, Aug. 31

OPEN MIC: Anything Goes Open Mic with Moments of Gratitude, Mondays, 7 p.m., free, Buttonwood Tree, 605 Main St., Middletown. Details at buttonwood.org TheButtonwoodTree@gmail.com or 860-347-4957. Donations are appreciated to help keep the organization serving its mission.

HEALTH WEBINAR: Webinar – Surgical Weight Loss Information, 5-6 p.m., Aug. 31, 12-1 p.m., Sept. 11, presented by Aziz Benbrahim, MD, board-certified general surgeon at MidState Medical Center. Live Q&A with the doctor follows. Registration required. Call 1.855.HHC.HERE (1.855.442.4373) or go to HartfordHealthCare.org/Webinars. After you register, you’ll receive an email with easy instructions on joining the webinar.

HEALTH WEBINAR: Webinar – Understanding Common Hand Pain, 6:307:30 p.m., Aug. 31, presented by Douglas Wisch, MD, board-certified orthopedic surgeon. A live Q&A with the doctor will follow the presentation. Registration required. Call 1.855.HHC.HERE (1.855.442.4373) or go to HartfordHealthCare.org/Webinars. After you register, you’ll receive an email with easy instructions on joining the webinar.

CHILDCARE SESSION: August 31 October 9, 2020: The Children’s Tree Montessori School is offering a 6-week childcare session for school aged children ages 5-9, opposite their hybrid school schedule Aug. 31-Oct. 9. Parents can choose either the Monday and Tuesday or Thursday and Friday cohort. Care is provided from 8:30am-3:30pm for $180 per week. Space is very limited. The Children's Tree Montessori School is located at 96 Essex Road in Old Saybrook. For more information and to register call 860-3883536.

MUM SALE: Westbrook Garden Club's Annual Fall mum sale, 9 a.m.-noon, Sept. 12, pickup at town hall. 9-inch potted mums from a well-known local grower; colors available are yellow, orange, purple, bronze, red, white. Pre-order by Aug. 31 from a club member and pay $7. Or call Betsy at 203-915-2055 to order. Proceeds fund the club’s scholarship program and beautification initiatives.

Tuesday, Sept. 1

LAUGHTER YOGA: Tuesdays: Laughter Yoga - 7 p.m., free. Buttonwood Tree, 605 Main St., Middletown. Details at buttonwood.org TheButtonwoodTree@gmail.com or 860-347-4957. Donations are appreciated to help keep the organization serving its mission.

AUTUMN ARTS FESTIVAL: Spectrum Gallery and Artisan’s Store presents the Autumn Arts Festival Exhibit, with select works by participating artists in the 2020 Autumn Arts Festival on the Madison Town Green, Sept. 17-Nov. 8. New original fine art and one-of-a-kind artisanal crafts available. Visit Spectrum Anytime at spectrumartgallery.org/shop to browse and shop the online gallery and Artisans Store. Gift cards also available in store and online. Visit spectrumartgallery.org or call 860-767-0742.

CHICKEN BARBECUE: Chicken barbecue, 5-7 p.m., takeout only, Sept. 4, at the Church of Epiphany, Durham, 196 Main Street. To order call 860-301-1148 by midnight Sept. 1. $15 per person, chicken, salads and dessert.

SENATOR VISIT: Senator Chris Murphy, “The Violence Inside Us”, In conversation with Roxanne J. Coady, 7 p.m. Sept. 1, RJ Julia Booksellers. Free virtual event on Zoom. Registration required; registered attendees will be provided with a link and password to the virtual meeting. Details at www.rjjulia.com or call 203-245-3959.

STORY TIMES: Virtual Story Time at Deep River Library, 10:30 a.m., Sept. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, on Zoom. Meet and say hello to library friends, and read a quick story or two. Registration is not required, but participants must go to the website calendar for the Zoom link at deepriverlibrary.accountsupport.com or call the library at 860-526-6039.

Wednesday, Sept. 2

VENDOR FAIR ON ZOOM: Wesleyan University's Office of Student Activities will be hosting a vendor fair via Zoom Sept. 2. The time of the event is to be announced. Organizers are looking to have Middletown businesses feature special deals for those who tune in. This would only be available to Wesleyan students, faculty, and staff who attend the event. Some ideas could be to offer free shipping, percentage discounts, or any other perks. Those interested may email stuact@wesleyan.edu.

EMBLEM CLUB: The Middletown Emblem Club #452 will hold its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Sept. 2 at the Elks Lodge, Crystal Ballroom. Masks and social distancing required. Officers are asked to contact President Betty Pear if unable to attend the meeting. To bag socks for the Veterans Stand Down on Sept. 25, be at the lodge at 5 p.m. Lots of help is needed.

HEALTH WEBINAR: Webinar – Understanding Joint Pain, 4:30-5:30 p.m., Sept. 2, with Frank Pompo, MD, boardcertified orthopedic surgeon. A live Q&A with the doctor will follow the presentation. Registration required. Call 1.855.HHC.HERE (1.855.442.4373) or go to HartfordHealthCare.org/Webinars. After you register, you’ll receive an email with easy instructions on joining the webinar.

AUTHOR TALK: Sara Levine, “Eye by

Eye”, 6 p.m., Sept. 2, RJ Julia Booksellers, registration required. Free virtual event on Zoom. Registered attendees will be provided with a link and password to the virtual meeting. Details at www.rjjulia.com or call 203-245-3959,

FREE TAKEOUT MEALS:

Free Community Meal from Faith Lutheran Church, Middletown. Meals are packed “to go” only until further notice. All are welcome. Use the well-marked door located in the back of the church. www.faithelcamiddletown.org.

Thursday, Sept. 3

THURSDAY CONCERTS: Thursdays on the Dock concerts, 67 Main Street, Essex, 5:30-7 p.m., presented by Connecticut River Museum, July 16-Sept. 10. Hear music, get a free massage, enjoy beverages. Donations welcome. July 16, Small Pond All Stars. For information and upcoming bands, call 860-767-8269 or visit ctrivermusem.org.

AUTHOR TALK: James R. Benn, “The Red Horse, 7 p.m., Sept. 3, free, sponsored by the Essex Library, focus on interesting WWII history in Billy Boyle Mystery series. Advance registration is required. 860-7671560 or www.youressexlibrary.org

CENTRAL BUSINESS BUREAU: The Middlesex Chamber’s Central Business Bureau has announced its meeting schedule for 2020-21, Sept. 3, Oct. 1, Nov. 5, Dec. 3, Jan. 7, Feb. 4, March 4, April 1, May 6, June 3, July 1, Aug. 5. To register, go to https://business.middlesexchamber.com/

RIVER CONCERTS: “Goodspeed by the River” concerts will be held on the Goodspeed lawn overlooking the scenic Connecticut River, with songs, stories and plenty of live music. Bring a picnic, chairs or a blanket. Concerts begin Aug. 20 and continue weekly through Sept. 6, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings at 6 p.m. Tickets $25, available by calling the Box Office at 860-873-8668.

AUTHOR TALK: Rick Riordan Presents J.C. Cervantes, “The Shadow Crosser”, In conversation with Shannon Messenger, 7 p.m., Sept. 3, RJ Julia Booksellers. Registration required. Free virtual event on Zoom. Registered attendees will be provided with a link and password to the virtual meeting. Details at www.rjjulia.com or call 203-2453959,

FRENCH CONVERSATION: French Conversation Circle on Zoom, 4:30 p.m., Sept. 3, with theDurham Library. Facilitated by Simone Howe. Email kmcnally@durhamlibrary.org for the Zoom link to the meeting. All levels welcome.

SUMMER MARKET: Durham’s summer market starts May 14 from 3-6:30 p.m. and continues weekly. A wide variety of vendors are expected For information, email farmersmarket@townofdurhamct.org or visit www.townofdurhamct.org