CALENDAR

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.

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.

BLOOD DRIVE: A blood drive will be held Feb. 5, 11:45 a.m. - 4:45 p.m., Essex Town Hall, 29 West Avenue, Essex. 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 1800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.

STORYTELLERS: Story City Troupe - A Night of Adult Storytelling, on Zoom with the Buttonwood Tree, MIddletown, 7-9 p.m. Feb. 5. $10 per person. Register for Zoom access at Buttonwood.org or email TheButtonwoodTree@gmail.com

Saturday, Feb. 6

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. 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.

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.”

THE BEATLES: The Beatles: From Liverpool to Abbey Road, a lecture on the Beatles as they embark on their historic journey, presented by the Friends of the Blackstone Library, 2 p.m. Feb. 6, Blackstone Library. To register visit www.blackstonelibrary.org or call 203-488-1441 ext. 318. Free.

SEAL ENCOUNTER: Virtual Harbor Seal Encounter with the New England Aquarium, 11 a.m. Feb. 6, for children and families, all ages with the Durham Library. See www.durhamlibrary.org for more information and to register.

MOTHER GOOSE STORIES: Mother Goose Storytime with the Durham Library’s Miss Diana on YouTube. See www.durhamlibrary.org (click on the Kids tab at the top) for the link.

VIRTUAL SEAL PROGRAM: Virtual Harbor Seal Encounter with the New England Aquarium, 11 a.m. Feb. 6 with the Durham Library. For children and families of all ages. See www.durhamlibrary.org for more information and to register.

SOUPER BOWL: “Church on the Rock” in Branford invites the community to tackle hunger during the Souper Bowl of Caring, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Feb. 6. The annual event is going contact-free this year with a canned soup collection in the United Methodist Church’s parking lot, 811 East Main St., Route 1 in Branford. Volunteers will take your donations right from your trunk, and in return, will send you home with a delicious bowl of chili. Donate in your favorite team’s soup pot; winner announced on Facebook. For more information, please contact Pastor Kent Jackson at 203-488-0549 or umcbranford1966@gmail.com

HEALTHLINE: Dr. Kristy Mascarenhas, is the guest on the next edition of the health information radio program — Healthline. Dr. Mascarenhas, an ophthalmologist with Middlesex Eye Physicians, will discuss the different types of glaucoma, the symptoms associated with glaucoma and how it can be treated. Healthline is produced by the Middletown Health Department and can be heard Feb. 6 at 3:15 a.m., 12:15 p.m., and 5:15 p.m. on WIHS 104.9 FM.

Sunday, Feb 7

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.

BRANFORD FORUM: Do Social Programs Work? Large Problems Require Large Solutions But Are They Effective?, A Conversation with Jesus M. Amadeo, 2 p.m. Feb. 7. To participate, send your name and email to the Branford Forum at rabinkux@sbcglobal.net.

Monday, Feb. 8

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.

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. 8, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Clark Memorial Fireman's Field, 210 Elm St., Old Saybrook. 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. 9

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.

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. 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.

BLOOD DRIVE: A blood drive will be held Feb. 9, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Water's Edge Resort & Spa, 1525 Boston Post Road, Westbrook. 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.

Saturday, Feb. 13

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.