CALENDAR

Thursday, Jan. 28

BLOOD DRIVE: A blood drive will be held Jan. 28, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Middlefield Federated Church, 402 Main St, Middlefield. Individuals can schedule an appointment to give blood today with the American Red Cross 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 up to Jan. 20 will be entered to win a Big game at Home package.

BLOOD DRIVE: A blood drive will be held Jan. 28, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., First Church of Christ, 366 Main St., Old Saybrook. Individuals can schedule an appointment to give blood today with the American Red Cross by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, calling 1-800RED-CROSS or activating the Blood Scheduling Skill for Amazon Alexa. Those who donate up to Jan. 20 will be entered to win a Big game at Home package.

STORY TIME: Terrific Thursday indoor Story Time at Deep River Library, Jan. 7, 14, 21, 28, in person or online, masks required. Take-and-make crafts are available on a first come, first serve basis. Room capacity is limited; registration is a requirement. Email the Children’s Department for more information: drplchildrensdept@gmail.com

UNDERSTANDING SEPSIS:A free virtual class “Understanding Sepsis,” 10-11 a.m. Jan. 28 with Nicholas Arsenault, transitional care nurse with Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging. Registration is required; call 855-442-4373 or go online to www.Hartford HealthCare.org/VirtualClasses.

GOTTA’S OPEN MIC: Thursdays, Bob Gotta's Open Mic, 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.

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. Zoom program.

Friday, Jan. 29

VITA TAX HELP: Safe Tax Prep Assistance with VITA volunteers and Henry Carter Hull Library, 10 Killingworth Tpke, Clinton. Registration begins Jan. 2, 10 a.m. You must register to receive an appointment for this service. Visit hchlibrary.org for current service hours; to register call 860-6692343.

FAST FRIDAY: Fast Friday, live Zoom class to say hello to our friends and share stories, Jan. 8, 15, 22, 29. Visit the library calendar for the Zoom link or email the Children’s Department: drplchildrensdept@gmail.com Recorded Story Times will be posted to our Linktree once weekly. You may also request to be on the weekly email list to automatically receive these story time links. https://linktr.ee/deepriverpubliclibrary

SPANISH CONVERSATION: Spanish Conversation on Zoom. Fridays at 4 p.m. Practice your Spanish with moderator Marilyn Horn. Email kmcnally@durhamlibrary.org for the weekly Zoom link to the meeting. All levels welcome.

AUTHOR TALK: Samuel P. Fortsch, “Pawtriot Dogs”, 4 p.m., Jan. 29, free on Zoom. Register and receive the zoom link and passwordk. RJ Julia Booksellers, details at www.rjjulia.com or call 203-245-3959.

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 at the event, the chamber’s 2021 Public Policy Agenda will be formally presented to the Middlesex County Legislative Delegation. This event is free to attend for members of the chamber. Advance registration required; go to www.middlesexchamber.com.

Saturday, Jan. 30

ALIGNED WITH SOURCE: Saturdays, Aligned with Source with Annaita Gandhy 10:30 a.m.-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 five 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.”

WINTER ART SHOW: The Winter Show of all new works by 27 local artists opens at Earth and Fire Art Studio, 2 Main St., Essex, Jan. 30, with paintings, sculptures, pottery and jewelry made by River Valley Artists, a group of artists from Chester, Essex and Deep River and other neighboring towns. To see the show and to learn more about River Valley Artists, visit www.rivervalleyartists.com, or call 860753-2435. The show runs through April 17.

STANTON HOUSE AUCTION: The Adam Stanton House Museum, 63 East Main Street, Clinton, is sponsoring a virtual auction fundraiser to continue to raise the funds needed to replace the roof this spring. Bidding opens March 1 and closes March 11. Instructions for pickup will be given to successful bidders. Auction details can be found on the museum’s website at adamstantonhouse.org. For information on donating items for the auction, call the museum at 860-669-2132, weekdays, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and weekends 1-3 p.m.

OPEN HOUSE: January 30: 9am-12pm. Open House, Children’s Tree Montessori School, 96 Essex Road, Old Saybrook. Learn about what the Montessori curriculum has to offer as an affordable alternative to traditional schooling. Independent Elementary School, Toddler & Preschool. For details call 860-388-3536, or visit www.childrenstree.org.

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 no-cost to those living in town. Hours are Saturdays and Sundays through March 28 from noon to 4 p.m. Nonresidents are charged: adults, $5; children, $3 and $4 for skate rentals. Individual season passes are $15, with families’ prices at $25, while senior citizens are also free. For information, visit Middletown CT Rec on Facebook at https://bit.ly/3mxEim6.

TAG MEETING: TAG Meeting (Teen Advisory Group), 3 p.m. Jan. 31, free on Zoom with RJ Julia Booksellers. Registered attendees will be provided with a link and password to the virtual meeting. Details at www.rjjulia.com or call 203-245-3959

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

Sunday, Jan. 31

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

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

Monday, Feb. 1

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.

ONLINE LUNCH: Online Lunch with Shoreline Unitarian Minister, Mondays at noon starting Jan. 11 on Zoom, the Rev. Terry Sweetser, To receive the Zoom link for this virtual lunch and virtual Sunday services at 10:30 a.m., contact the church office: office@shorelineunitarian.org or (203) 245-8720.

DIAPER DRIVE: Bare Necessities, a non-profit organization, is hosting the fourth annual Law Enforcement Diaper Drive, Feb. 1-15. Kicks off Jan. 26, 9 a.m. at the Branford Police Department, 33 Laurel Street. Masks and social distancing is required. This year's participating Police Departments include Branford, Clinton, Connecticut State Police - Troop F, East Haven, Guilford, Madison, and North Branford. Donations may be dropped off anytime at any of the participating police departments, at the Madison Coffee House,724 Boston Post Road in Madison, or use Bare Necessities Amazon wish list and have them shipped directly to their warehouse.

VACCINATION TRANSPORTATION: The Middletown Transit District’s Complimentary COVID Vaccination Transportation provides free accessible transportation to COVID-19 vaccination sites, including drive-through sites, in the district 7 days per week. Trips must begin in Middletown, Middlefield, East Hampton, Portland or Durham and may be to any testing site in those towns. 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.

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION: Registration for kindergarten at Valley View School, Portland, is open to children turning five 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.

DIAPER DRIVE: Bare Necessities, a non-profit organization, is hosting the fourth annual Law Enforcement Diaper Drive, Feb. 1-15. Kicks off Jan. 26, 9 a.m. at the Branford Police Department, 33 Laurel Street. Masks and social distancing is required. This year's participating Police Departments include Branford, Clinton, Connecticut State Police - Troop F, East Haven, Guilford, Madison, and North Branford. Donations may be dropped off anytime at any of the participating police departments, at the Madison Coffee House,724 Boston Post Road in Madison, or use Bare Necessities Amazon wish list and have them shipped directly to their warehouse.