Virtual concert will feature opera house’s longtime organist

THOMASTON — Landmark Community Theatre presents a virtual concert with Juan Cardona Jr., streamed live from the Thomaston Opera House, at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Cardona will perform a variety of his favorite tunes on the 1926 Marr Colton theater pipe organ in the opera house. Singer Charise Courtney will join him for a few numbers.

For more than 20 years, Juan Cardona Jr. has been the house organist at the Thomaston Opera House and at the Bardavon Opera House in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

He is often a feature attraction at these and other venues around the country performing live accompaniment for classic silent films.

Cardona performed at Woolsey Hall as guest organist with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Skitch Henderson with vocalists Laurie Gayle Stephenson and Keith Buterbaugh from Broadway’s “Phantom of the Opera.”

He also opened for ’50s and ’60s pop star Neil Sedaka, and opened and played with Tito Puente at his last performance. Other guests artists have been coloratura soprano Nina Cathey and Broadway actress and singer Michelle Dawson.

To register to view this event, go to http://our.show/landmarkcommunity-theatre/85387

Red Cross schedules blood drives in area

The American Red Cross is asking for healthy individuals to step up to help patients experiencing health crises by donating blood or platelets.

As COVID-19 continues to affect everyday life, people may not be thinking about blood donations. But blood and platelets are needed daily to help patients battling disease and facing the unexpected.

Donating blood is an easy way to care for each other and ensure hospitals have the blood products patients rely on.

As a thank you, all who give blood or platelets through May 31 will receive a special Red Cross “We’re all in this together” T-shirt by mail, while supplies last. Donors must have a valid email address on file to claim their Tshirt.

Healthy individuals who are feeling well are asked to make an appointment to donate by downloading the free Red Cross blood donor app, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 800-733-2767 or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.

Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive and are required to wear a face covering or mask while at the drive, in alignment with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention public guidance.

Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions — including social distancing and face coverings for donors and staff — have been implemented.

The Red Cross is also looking for blood drive hosts to help ensure a stable blood supply. Learn more and sign up to sponsor a drive by visiting RedCrossBlood.org/HostADrive Litchfield County blood drives include:

Litchfield: May 26, 1 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Litchfield Community Center, 421 Bantam Road.

New Milford: May 30, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., St John’s Church, 7 Whittlesey Ave.

Torrington: May 28, 1 to 6 p.m., St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 837 Charles St.

Woodbury: May 16, 7:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., Woodbury Senior Center, 265 Main St. South.

Coalition to hold Taste of Ramadan

BLOOMFIELD — The Muslim Coalition of Connecticut will host its annual Taste of Ramadan event online from 6:30 to 8 p.m. May 17.

This free interfaith program is for those who would like to learn about the importance of Ramadan for Muslims and hear about the traditions of fasting from the Muslim, Christian and Jewish perspectives.

The interfaith panel this year will cpomprise Deena Grant (Judaism), the Very Rev. John Jillions (Orthodox Christianity) and Dr. Colleen Keyes (Islam).

For more information or to register, email info@mcct.us or call 860-242-1707.

Visit www.mcct.us or search on Facebook to learn more about the coalition and its activities and programs.

Parkinson’s disease symposium offered

The Connecticut Chapter of the American Parkinson Disease Association is hosting a virtual symposium May 18 to 22, for an hour each day beginning at 11 a.m. because of COVID-19.

This is the first time the APDA Connecticut Chapter has held a virtual symposium. The format will allow people with Parkinson’s and their families to learn about advances in Parkinson’s disease management.

APDA President and CEO Leslie A. Chambers, will open the event with remarks on Monday, May 18.

Topics include “Innovations in PD Management” with Michelle Lavallee-Dagostine, M.D.; “The Role of Nutrition in Parkinson’s Disease” with Eric Secor, N.D., PhD.; “Psychosocial Impact of PD” with Amanda Brill, LCSW; “Exploring Medical Marijuana for Parkinson’s Disease: Science and Politics” with J. Antonelle de Marcaida, M.D., medical director of Chase Family Movement Disorders Center; and “A Holistic Approach to Living” with Alexander Tressor.

Alexander Tressor, a ballet master, former Broadway dancer and founder of the Parkinson’s on the Move program, who was diagnosed in 2006, will speak from a patient prospective on how he has learned to manage his disease. His inspirational and sometimes funny talk will be on Friday.

For more information, go to https://www.apdaparkinson.org/ community/connecticut/

There is no charge, but registration is required. Email Susan Lather at susan.lather@hhchealth.org with questions.