CALENDAR

SKATING RINK FREE: Admission to the Middletown skating rink at Veterans Park on Walnut Hill Road is now free for Middletown residents. Skate rentals are also free for those living in town. Hours are Saturdays and Sundays through March 28 from noon to 4 p.m. Nonresidents are charged, except senior citizens. For information, visit Middletown CT Rec on Facebook at https://bit.ly/3mxEim6.

VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE: CELC Middle School Virtual Open House is Jan. 23 for grades 5 to 8. Openings are available for the 2021-22 academic year.

VIRTUAL COFFEEHOUSE: Cromwell Creative District’s second annual coffeehouse is going virtual and will be held Feb. 26. Performers of all ages are welcome. They can email cromwellcreativedistrict@gmail.com with a video performance under five minutes; include name, contact information and brief background of the performers. Fun family videos encouraged. Artists can email photos of their work in jpgs with the name, contact information and description of work. Subject line should include Virtual Coffeehouse Family Event. Entries are due Feb. 14; for information, email cromwellcreativedistrict@gmail.com.

ALIGNED WITH SOURCE: Aligned with Source with Annaita Gandhy, Saturdays, 10:30 a.m. to noon, 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.

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION: Registration for kindergarten at Valley View School, Portland, is open to children turning 5 on or before Jan. 1, 2022. Contact the school at pgross@portlandct.us and provide your child’s full name, phone number and address. Further information regarding registration will be provided once you contact the school.

ART FUNDRAISER: The Essex Art Association is hosting its first online fundraiser at www.essexartassociation.com through Feb. 15. Members have donated nearly 40 paintings and photographs, and 100 percent of the proceeds will go directly to the gallery. At the website, look for Exhibitions and then the show’s title, “This One's For Us.”

VACCINATION TRANSPORTATION: The Middletown Transit District’s complimentary COVID vaccination transportation provides free accessible transportation to COVID-19 vaccination sites, including drive-thru sites, in the district seven days a week. Trips must begin in Middletown, Middlefield, East Hampton, Portland or Durham and may be to any testing site in those towns. Any resident, regardless of age or ability, is eligible, and up to four people may travel together. Trips must be booked at least one day in advance by calling Curtin Transportation at 860-443-1655 between 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. weekdays. Wheelchair accessible vehicles are available upon request. Face coverings are required when riding. Full program details are available at www.middletownareatransit.org.

GET YOUR GED: Middletown Adult Education invites residents to register for free online classes to earn their high school diploma. MAE has free online high school completion classes and a free,online GED program to prepare for the exam. Registration is ongoing for area residents. Call 860-343-6044.

NEW ART SHOW: Spectrum Art Gallery and Artisans Store of Centerbrook presents its newest exhibit, “The Human + Animal Bond” opening Jan. 23 from 12:30 to 6 p.m. and Jan. 24 from 12:30 to 5 p.m. at the gallery, 61 Main St., Centerbrook.

Sunday, Jan. 24

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.

VIRTUAL WORSHIP: Faith Lutheran Church, Middletown, Sunday worship, 9 a.m. For more information, including the link to join worship, visit www.faithelcamiddletown.org. All are welcome.

CHURCH SERVICES: CenterPoint Community Church, Cromwell, will have Sunday services at First Congregational Church in Cromwell at 12:30 p.m.

REIKI CLASS: Reiki Level 1 Class, a healing practice that promotes rest, relaxation and stress reduction facilitated by light touch, 1 to 6 p.m. Jan. 24 and 31. Learn the benefits, history and precepts of reiki. Reiki stimulates the person’s self-healing response. It supports conventional medicine, regardless of whether the individual is healthy or ill. Small class, open for three participants, at The Buttonwood Tree Performing Arts Center, 605 Main St., Middletown. For fees and reservations, visit Buttonwood.org/, call 203-314-5401 or email eilande@comcast.net. Learn more at www.ReikiwithEileenAnderson.com.

MEDITATION BOOK DISCUSSION: Mindfulness in “Total Meditation,” moderated by Kate McGetrick of Rise Therapy & Wellness, 3 p.m. Jan. 24, free on Zoom with RJ Julia Booksellers. This is a book discussion only. The author will not be in attendance. Registered attendees will be provided a link and password. Details at www.rjjulia.com or call 203-245-3959.

Monday, Jan. 25

ONLINE LUNCH: Online lunch with the Shoreline Unitarian minister, the Rev. Terry Sweetser, Mondays at noon on Zoom. To receive the Zoom link for lunch and virtual Sunday services at 10:30 a.m., contact the church office at office@shorelineunitarian.org or 203-2458720.

DRIVING AND DEMEMTIA: A free virtual class, “Keys to Consider – Driving and Dementia,” 2 to 3 p.m. Jan. 25, will cover a variety of topics including the progression of dementia, how dementia affects the skills needed to drive, safety concerns and a question and answer session. Registration required; call 855442-4373 or go online to www.Hartford HealthCare.org/VirtualClasses.

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 appreciated.

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION: Registration for kindergarten at Valley View School, Portland, is open to children turning 5 on or before Jan. 1, 2022. Contact the school at pgross@portlandct.us and provide your child’s full name, phone number and address. Further information regarding registration will be provided once you contact the school.

LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST: The Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce will host its annual Legislative Breakfast at 8 a.m. Jan. 29. This event, which will be held virtually for the first time, is sponsored by Comcast. The format is mainly question and answer and the chamber’s 2021 public policy agenda will be formally presented to the Middlesex County legislative delegation. The event is free for members of the chamber. Advance registration is required; go to www.middlesexchamber.com.

Tuesday, Jan. 26

BLOOD DRIVE: A blood drive will be held Jan. 26, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., First Tee Connecticut, 55 Golf Club Road, Cromwell. Individuals can schedule an appointment to give blood by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, calling 1-800-REDCROSS.

BLOOD DRIVES: Blood drives will be held Jan. 26, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 1 to 6 p.m., at the Middletown Elks Lodge, 44 Maynard St., Middletown. Individuals can schedule an appointment to give blood by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, calling 1-800-RED-CROSS or activating the Blood Scheduling Skill for Amazon Alexa. Those who donate by Jan. 20 will be entered to win a Big Game at Home package.

YA BOOK CLUB: Young Adult Book Club: “In the Penalty Box” by Lynn Rush and Kelly Anne Blount, 7 p.m. Jan. 26, free on Zoom. Registration required; attendees will be provided with a link and password. RJ Julia Booksellers, details at www.rjjulia.com or call 203245-3959.

COMMUNITY BLOOD DRIVE: First Tee - Connecticut will host a community blood drive, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 26 at First Tee – Connecticut, 55 Golf Club Road, Cromwell,. For more information or to make an appointment to donate, call 860-316-2513 or sign up online at redcrossblood.org with sponsor code Cromwell.

BOOK CHAT: Book Chat Online: January Edition, Henry Carter Hull Library, Clinton, 9:30 a.m. Jan. 26, free. Registration required; email sarah@hchlibrary.org or call 860-669-2342.

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

MONEY MANAGEMENT: Managing Your Money In Challenging Times: The Basics, a five-part series presented by Faye Griffiths-Smith with the Essex Library, 6:30 p.m. Jan. 26 and every other Tuesday through March 23 on Zoom. Free, registration is required. Call Essex Library at 860-767-1560 or visit the website www.youressexlibrary.org.

VACCINATION TRANSPORTATION: The Middletown Transit District’s complimentary COVID vaccination transportation provides free accessible rides to COVID-19 vaccination sites, including drive-thru sites, in the district seven days a week. Trips must begin in Middletown, Middlefield, East Hampton, Portland or Durham and may be to any testing site in those towns. Any resident, regardless of age or ability, is eligible, and up to four people may travel together. Trips must be booked at least one day in advance by calling Curtin Transportation at 860443-1655 between 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. weekdays. Wheelchair accessible vehicles are available upon request. Face coverings are required when riding.

YA BOOK CLUB: Young Adult Book Club: “In the Penalty Box” by Lynn Rush and Kelly Anne Blount, 7 p.m. Jan. 26, free on Zoom with RJ Julia Booksellers. Registered attendees will be provided with a link and password. Details at www.rjjulia.com or call 203-245-3959.

Wednesday, Jan. 27

D&D ON ZOOM: Zoom Dungeons & Dragons, Wednesdays at 7 p.m. at Durham Library. Grades 7 and up welcome. See www.durhamlibrary.org (Kids tab at top of page) to register.

AUTHOR TALK: Shelli R. Johannes, “Libby Loves Science: Mix and Measure (I Can Read Level 3),” 4 p.m. Jan. 27, free on Zoom. Registration required; attendees will be provided with a link and password. RJ Julia Booksellers.; details at www.rjjulia; .com or call 203-245-3959.

MAKE POTSTICKERS: Learn to make potstickers, or Chinese dumplings, 6:30 p.m. Jan. 27, on Zoom with the Deep River Library and Katie Shepherd, registered dietician with Food Explorers. For information and registration, go to deepriverlibrary.accountsupport.com and click on the monthly calendar or call the library at 860-526-6039.

SCIENCE TALK: “Games, Drugs And Rock & Roll: Artificial Intelligence In Everyday Life” with Yale Science Communication, hosted by the Essex Library on Zoom, Jan. 27 at 7 p.m., The focus will be on artificial intelligence in our everyday lives through the lens of game theory, pharmaceutical research and music therapy. Registration is required; www.youressexlibrary.org or call Essex Library at 860-767-1560.

AUTHOR DISCUSSION: Shelli R. Johannes and Kimberly Derting, “Libby Loves Science: Mix and Measure (I Can Read Level 3),” 4 p.m. Jan. 27, free on Zoom with RJ Julia Booksellers. Registered attendees will be provided with a link and password. Details at www.rjjulia.com or call 203-245-3959

Thursday, Jan. 28

INTERPRETING DREAMS: Dream Interpretation with Rev. Lee Ireland on Zoom, 7 p.m. Jan. 28. Learn how to analyze your dreams. See www.durhamlibrary.org to register.