CALENDAR

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 860-7532435. 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. SERVICES: 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 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. 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.

BLOOD DRIVE: A blood drive will be held Feb. 1, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Middletown Elks Lodge, 44 Maynard St. Middletown. Make your appointment to give blood, platelets or plasma with the Red Cross by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.

Tuesday, Feb. 2

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.

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

CIVICS WORKSHOP SERIES: A free upcoming workshop series, Civics 2.0: The Ins & Outs of Serving on a Town Inland Wetlands Agency, will be offered in four two-day sesssions. Participants can choose the date they want to attend: Feb. 20, 27, 1-3 p.m.; March 22, 29, 7-9 p.m.; April 8, 15, 7-9 p.m.; or May 12 and 19, 7-9 p.m. Presenters include Janet Brooks, an experienced wetland attorney, and Kelly Starr, Natural Resource Specialist, Connecticut River Coastal Conservation District. For more information, including how to register, contact civics2.0@yahoo.com.

BLOOD DRIVES: Blood drives will be held Feb. 2, 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. and 1 p.m. - 6 p.m., Victory Church, 191 Meriden Road, Route 66, Middlefield. Make your appointment to give blood, platelets or plasma with the Red Cross by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.

Wednesday, Feb. 3

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.

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

STAYING HEALTHY: Stay Healthy And Prepared In 2021 Series Presents “Top Tips For Winter Storm & Flooding Readiness.” UConn Extension Educator Mary Ellen Welch, free illustrated talk on tips for preparing for winter storms and flooding, 5 p.m. Feb 3, on Zoom for the Essex Library. Welch will focus on making emergency kits, weather terms, and staying safe during power outages. RSVP: 860-7671560 or www.youressexlibrary.org

PARENTS’ PROGRAM: Meets weekly on Wednesdays starting Feb. 3, 10 a.m. with Henry Carter Hull Library, Clinton, through March 31. Registration required. Email askus@hchlibrary.org or call 860-6692342 to sign up.

Thursday, Feb. 4

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/

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.

TERRIFIC THURSDAY: Terrific Thursday, an indoor story time for families with young children, Deep River Public Library, will feature books and music and movement, with social distancing; masks for all participants over 2, and an air scrubber will be used. Take-and-make crafts are available on a first come, first serve basis. Capacity is limited and registration is required, 10:30 a.m. Feb. 4, 11, 18, 24. Email the Children’s Department for more information: drplchildrensdept@gmail.com

FRENCH CONVERSATION: French Conversation Circle on Zoom. First Thursday of the month at 5 p.m. Facilitated by Simone Howe. Email kmcnally@durhamlibrary.org for the Zoom link to the meeting. All levels welcome.

BLOOD DRIVE: A blood drive will be held Feb. 4, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Fellowship Church, 1002 Saybrook Road, Middletown. Make your appointment to give blood, platelets or plasma with the Red Cross by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.

Friday, Feb. 5

FAST FRIDAY: Fast Friday with the Deep River Public Library, a live Zoom class to say hello to friends and share stories, 10:30 a.m. Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26. Visit the calendar for the Zoom link or email the Children’s Department: drplchildrensdept@gmail.com

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.